"Sir Patrick Spens" is one of the most popular of the Child Ballads (No. 58), and is primarily of Scottish origin. The events of the ballad are similar to, and may chronicle, an actual event: the bringing home of the Scottish princess The Maid of Norway across the North Sea in 1290 (though there is speculation that it may relate to a voyage by the princess's mother in 1281). The princess, who was merely seven years old at the time, died on the crossing, though not in the manner of Sir Patrick in this song. However, many of the ships sent to fetch her are said to have foundered and perished. The name "Patrick Spens" has no historical record, and, like many of the heroes of such ballads, is probably an invention.

The story as told in the ballad has multiple versions, but they all follow the same basic plot. The King of Scotland has called for the greatest sailor in the land to command a ship for a royal errand. The name "Sir Patrick Spens" is mentioned by a courtier, and the king despatches a letter. Sir Patrick, though honoured to receive a royal commission, is dismayed at being put to sea in the dead of winter, clearly realising this voyage could well be his last. Versions differ somewhat at this point. Some indicate that a storm sank the ship in the initial crossing, thus ending the ballad at this point, while many have Sir Patrick safely reaching Norway. In Norway tension arises between the Norwegian lords and the Scots, who are accused of being a financial burden on the king. Sir Patrick, taking offense, leaves the following day. Nearly all versions, whether they have the wreck on the outward voyage or the return, relate the bad omen of seeing "the new moon late yestreen, with the auld moon in her arms." The winter storms have the best of the great sailor, sending him and the Scottish lords to the bottom of the sea.

Lyrics of the ballad

The following are one version of the lyrics of "Sir Patrick Spens", as related by Francis James Child (Version A):

The King sits in Dunferline toune

Drinking the blude-ried wine:

'O quhar will I get a guid sailor,

To sail this schip of mine?'

Up and spank an eldern knicht,

Sat at the king's richt knee

'Sir Patrick Spence is the best sailor,

That sails upon the sea.'

The King has written a braid letter,

And signed it wi'his hand;

And sent it to Sir Patrick Spence,

Was walking on the sand.

The first line that Sir Parick trd,

A loud lauch lauched he:

The next line that Sir Patrick red,

The teir blinded his e'e.

'O quha is this has don this deid,

This ill deid don to me,

To send me out this time o'the yier,

To sail upon the sea?

Mak haste, mak haste, my mirry men all,

Our guid schip sails the morne.'

'O say na sae, my master deir,

For I feir a deadlie storme.

Late, late yestreen I saw the new moone

Wi' the auld moone in hir arme;

And I feir, I feir my deir master

That we will come to harme.'

O our Scots nobles wer richt laith

To weet their cork-heil'd schoone;

Bot lang owre a' the play wer played,

Thair hats they swam aboone.

O lang, lang may thair ladies sit

Wi' thair fans into their hand,

Or eir they se Sir Patrick Spence

Com sailing to the land.

O lang, land may the ladies sit

Wi' thair gold kems in their hair,

Waiting for thair ain deir lords

For they'll se thame na mair.

Haf owre, haf owre to Aberdour,

It's fiftie fadom deip:

And thair lies guid Sir Patrick Spence,

Wi' the Scots lords at his feit.