BLACK EYED SUSAN [2]. AKA and see "Sweet William's Farewell to Black-ey'd Susan." English, Air (3/4 time). E Minor (Oswald): D Minor (Manson). Standard tuning (fiddle). One part (Alexander, Manson): AABB (Oswald). The words to the song were written by bass singer and composer Richard Leveridge [1] (1670-1758).
Richard Leveridge
All in the Downs the Fleet was moor'd, The streamers waving to the wind, When black-ey'd Susan came on board; Oh! where shall I my true love find? Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true, If my sweet William, If my sweet William sails among your crew.
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Alexander (Alexander’s New Scrap Book, vol. 6), c. 1845; No. 854, p. 13. Howe (Second Part of the Musician's Companion), 1850; p. 6. Manson (Hamilton's Universal Tune Book vol. 2), 1846; p. 151. Oswald (Caledonian Pocket Companion, Book 11), 1760; p. 115.
