A man who went gambling, on the streets ambling, lost all he had to his name
It wasn't his money on the table that night, but he was the one to blame
When the last cent was spent, he got up and he went, with a face as calm as the sea by the wall
He stood there a while, and he started to smile, before he took a great fall
Now a man in a fine carriage came to the house to collect from the widow her husband's debt
She was dressed all in black with a child on her lap, and he could see that her checks were wet
He'd gone there with intent to get all that was spent, but when he saw her face, his mind started to change
He got down on his knees, he looked into her eyes, and then he said something quite strange
"I'm a man of great wealth, and I pray of good health, with more than I ever could spare
But it was not until now that I realized how I have never had a true friend
He took up her hands and held them in his own
And laid the other upon the child's head
"Your husband was a gambler, a cad, and a rambler
So pray marry me instead."
"It's true all you've said, but my husband is dead
And I must live to honour his name
He was bad it is true, but I can't marry you
And cause his poor family great pain."
"So I'll raise the boy to be so much better than he
An upstanding man of whom I will be proud
But until this day, in mourning I'll stay
And covered in a black shroud."
The lord stayed on his knees, so willing to please
And softly he did reply
"But surely you can see, we'd be better as three
We'll raise him both you and I."
And he looked at the child, and with love he smiled
And she could see he would honour his word
She lifted her head, declared "This man I'll wed,"
And then flew to him like a free bird
They married the next day in the simplest way
By the church standing next to the sea
As he put on the ring he said "From this day
I will always put you above me."
"There isn't a storm that we cannot weather,
As long as we're together, standing strong."
And until their last day, they remained this way
And this story is their song