British & Other Versions 7A. The Sailor Boy, or, Sweet William (Roud 273; Laws K12; Me I-A19) (Sailing Trade; Father Father Build me a Boat; The Pinery Boy; Papa, Papa, Build Me a Boat; A Sailor's Life; I Have No One to Love Me; Captain Tell Me True; The Sailor Boy and his Faithful Mary; Sailin', Sailin's a Weary Life; Sweet Sailor Boy; The Broken-Hearted Lover; Moment's River Side; Soldier Boy; Sweet Soldier Boy; Sailor's Wife; I'll Sit down and Write a Song; Black is the Color)
First stanza of the popular "Sailor Boy and his Faithful Mary"
["Soldier Boy" or, "Sweet William" is a British ballad well known in the UK. Traditional British versions are usually closely aligned with their broadside antecedents. Theoretically the oldest broadside/print group is C ("Sailor Boy" Evans 1810), also my Oikotype C, which in its archaic form has lines from John Gay's 1720 poem/ballad, Black Eyed Susan. Evidence of Archaic C, a missing English broadside dated c.1680-1718, has been found in two versions collected in America[1]. This evidence suggests that Archaic C was rewritten in the late 1700s and early 1800s becoming both Irish A (Early, early) and English C (Down by a crystal river side) with specific opening stanzas. By the mid-1800s English C gave way to the more recent adaptation (see image above) of English D, "Sailor Boy and his Faithful Mary," which has a broadside writer's miracle ending:
She wrung her hands and tore her hair,
Jut like a woman in great despair,
She flung her body into the deep
In her William's arms to lay fast asleep. [last stanza, "Sailor Boy and his Faithful Mary"]
Evidence of D's popularity is found in The Monthly Packet of evening readings for younger members of the English Church, January--June 1862, London, by John and Charles Mozley, Paternoster Row. This excerpt with a "traditional" ballad text is from the chapter, "Life among the Factories" by K. L.:
Song-singing was a favourite amusement with them all; never more vigorously pursued than over the wash-tub, at the end of a day of hard work. Some of them could manage a second very well; and we had one or two really fine voices. Their choice of songs, too, was good; now and then we objected to one, and it was dropped directly. We enjoyed most the old ballads, with their quaint tunes, which they had learnt they knew not where. 'Barbara Allen' was one of these, whose cruelties seem to have been chaunted both in England and Scotland, where a version of the same song exists, from time immemorial. Another, of far more recent date probably, for its lines halted terribly, and its grammar was weak as its sentiment, appeared to have been composed by a young woman of poetic temperament, and sung by her after her decease. No one seemed aware of the comic element in it; they all sat seriously attentive, repeating the last two lines as a chorus, while the chief singer, with her head on one side, her eyes cast down, and rocking gently to and fro, droned it slowly and sadly forth. Here are the words, taken down as they were sung:—
'There's five-and-twenty all in a row,
And William he is the fairest show;
He is both handsome, genteel, and tall:
I'll have my William, else none at all.
"O Father! Father! build me a boat,
That on the ocean I may float;
And every king-ship that I pass by,
I will inquire for my sailor-boy."
I had not sailed far upon the deep,
Before a king-ship I chanced to meet:
"O jolly sailor, come tell me true,
If my sweet William's along with you?"
"Oh no, fair lady, he is not here,
For he is drowned, I greatly fear.
The other night, when the wind blew high,
It was then you lost your young sailor-boy."
She sat her down, and she wrote a song;
She wrote it wide, and she wrote it long;
At every line she shed a tear,
And at every verse she cried, "William dear!''
She wrung her hands, and she tore her hair,
Just like some lady in deep despair;
She plunged her body into the deep—
In the sailor's arms she lies fast asleep.'
Surely the last verse but one in the history of this nautical Evangeline, while the most absurd from its utter impossibility, is almost pathetic in its conceit. But it is singular to remark how many of these old ballads end in suicide as a matter of course, and no idea of wrong seems to be attached to it. It is this separation of our religious belief from our actual life, shown again in the 'lies fast asleep,' which is perhaps one of the greatest religious anomalies of our day. Eminently practical as a nation in our daily existence, we have grown into a habit of laying aside our religion with our Sunday clothes, to be taken out and aired once a week.
The ballad given by K.L. lacks the opening stanza of D, "A sailor's life is a merry life." In K.L.'s end notes (above) are the justification for the inclusion of the ballad in a church publication and the comment on the absurdity of the ending. Several dozen versions of D were collected in the early 1900s. The following version, "My Sweet William," a much different version than the one printed in The Monthly Packet that still has D's ending, was sung by British sailors in the late 1870s. It's taken from the life story of Sam Noble which details his nautical experiences aboard the HMS St. Vincent, the HMS Victory, and the HMS Swallow. Here's an excerpt with the text[2]:
Take "My love William." This was a special favourite with us, though, strange to say, without a chorus. It seems to be a version of Gay's "All in the Downs," or "Black-eyed Susan"—or was Gay's ballad a version of it?—Nobody can tell. These old sea songs seem to have been handed down from the time men first went to sea; passed from lip to lip for generations long before printing was thought of. Every time you meet them they're differently dressed. Look at "Away down Rio." I've come across this song twenty times, each time different. But the theme and the tune as a rule are the same. So too with "My love William." Any old sailor you'll find with the song on his lips, but the words different. Here is the way we sang it:
Oh, father, father, build me a boat,
That on the ocean I may float,
Hail every vessel that I pass by,
Saying, "Have you heard of my sailor boy?"
She hadn't been long upon the deep,
When a man-o'-war she chanced to meet—
"Stop, stop that ship, you joyful crew,
For I fear my William's on board of you!"
"What colour of clothes did your William wear?
What colour of hair was your William's hair?"
"A light blue jacket and trousers white,
And the colour of his hair was my heart's delight."
"Oh, no, fair lady he is not here,
I fear he lies drowned at yonder pier,
At yonder pier as I passed by
It was there I left your poor sailor boy."
She wrung her hands and she tore her hair,
Just like a lady in despair,
And she threw herself upon the deep,
Crying, "My love William, are you asleep?"
Sam Noble's comments about the ballad show a deeper understanding of the origin of the ballad (see his comment on Gay's ballads) than one would expect from an average sailor singer aboard her majesty's ships. The body of the text is standard from A or B while the ending is a variant on D's "miracle" ending found in the last example a few years earlier.
One of the most important British traditional versions, titled "Early, Early All in the Spring" was sung by Mrs. Hollings (c.1870) who originally from Lincolnshire. The version was published in JFSS, 2 (1906), 293–4. After its publication in 1906 it caused some confusion[3] since it has stanzas similar to Butcher Boy with the suicide. The reason for this attachment and borrowing is the pivotal "letter writing" stanza which inexplicably in many versions of "Sailor Boy" becomes a song writing stanza:
She set her down and wrote a song—
She wrote it wide, she wrote it long;
At every line she shed a tear,
And at every verse she said "My dear." [sung by Mrs. Hollings, learned when she was a child]
Since a similar stanza is found in Butcher Boy, naturally, stanzas of Butcher Boy with the suicide are likely to follow. Since Butcher Boy and the suicide is not usually found in the UK, Mrs. Hollings version is likely created from: 1) a version of Butcher Boy brought to the UK from America 2) a Scottish version with the suicide; or, 2) Mrs. Hollings version is a remnant of the distant past when the antecedent "Butcher Boy" was still sung. It can be noted that in Scotland about the same time (See versions collected by Greig/Duncan) several Died for Love/Brisk Young Lover versions had the suicide so this rare example is not unique. Here is Hollings' text, dated c. 1870:
Early, Early All in the Spring- Sung by Mrs Hollings, learned in Lincolnshire when she was a child. Collected by Frank Kidson; published in JFSS, 2 (1906), 293–4.
Early, early all in the spring,
My love was press'd to serve the King;
The wind blew high and the wind blew low,
And parted me and my young sailor boy.
"O father, father, make me a boat,
That on the ocean I may float,
And every [French, fresh, king's] ship as I pass by,
I will enquire for my sailor boy."
She had not sailed far across the deep,
Before five king's ships she chanced to meet,
"Come, jolly sailors, come tell me true—
Does my love sail in along with you?"
"What clothes does your true love wear?
What colour is your true love's hair?"
"A blue silk jacket, all bound with twine;
His hair is not the colour of mine."
"Oh no fair lady, your love's not here—
He has got drown'd, I greatly fear;
For on yon ocean as we passed by,
'Twas there we lost a young sailor-boy."
She wrung her hands, and tore her hair,
Like some lady in deep despair,
Saying "Happy, happy is the girl," she cried,
"Has got a true love down by her side."
She set her down and wrote a song—
She wrote it wide, she wrote it long;
At every line she shed a tear,
And at every verse she said "My dear."
When her dear father came home that night,
He called for his heart's delight;
He went upstairs, the door he broke,
He found her hanging by a rope.
He took a knife and cut her down;
Within her bosom a note was found,
And in this letter these words were wrote:
"Father, dear father, my heart is broke.
Father, dear father, dig me a grave—
Dig it wide and dig it deep;
And in the middle put a lily-white dove,
That the world may know I died for love."
In 1893 Lucy Broadwood printed an old version she titled, "Sweet William," in her book, English Country Songs. It was sent to her by Margaret Harley who gave the following notes:
This song is a great favourite with the boys of Bewdley, who can give no account of it, except that " there was an old man as used to sing it." The best singer when he has ended the song always turns to the audience, remarking emphatically " Till apples grows on an orange-tree," probably the usual custom of the old ballad-singers.
Broadwood's title caught on--in 1894 Sabine Baring-Gould collected a version from one of his best informants, John Woodrich, and also titled it "Sweet William." He sent Woodrich's version to Broadwood in letter commenting of her version and suggesting that the last stanza is from another ballad[4]. Here's Broadwood's 1893 version given to her by Harley.
Sweet William- Words and tune, with notes from Margaret Harley, Bewdley.
1. O father, father, come build me a boat,
That on this wild ocean I may float,
And every ship that I chance to meet
I will enquire for my William sweet.
2 I had not sailed more than half an hour
Before I met with a man on board (man of war?)
"Kind captain, captain, come tell me true,
Is my sweet William on board with you?"
3 "Oh no, fine lady, he is not here,
That he is drowned most breaks my fear,
For the other night when the wind blew high
That's when you lost your sweet sailor boy."
4 I'll set me down, and I'll write a song,
I'll write it neat, and I'll write it long,
And at every word I will drop a tear,
And in every line I'll set my Willie dear.
5 I wish, I wish, but it's all in vain,
I wish I was a sweet maid again,
But a maid, a maid I never shall be
Till apples grow on an orange-tree.
For a maid, a maid I shall never be,
Till apples grow on an orange-tree.
Baring-Gould was right about the last stanza-- it's from the "Died for Love" songs which in tradition are a common source of borrowing by singers of Sweet William, the sailor boy. Since both Broadwood and Baring Gould titled their versions Sweet William, it was only natural for Ceil Sharp and others to use the same title-- Sharp used it for his master title. The problem is: it's the same title used in versions of "Lady Margaret and Sweet William," a popular Child ballad.
Sharp printed a composite English version of Sweet William in his 1916 "One Hundred English Folk Songs" while Herbert Hughes printed an Irish version titled "Father Build Me a Boat" in his "Irish Country Songs" (Volume 4, Boosey & Co.) in 1930. Another influential Irish version, "My Boy Willie," was printed in Colm O Lochlain's 1939 "Irish Street Ballads." Lochlain's ballad was altered and reprinted as Sweet William without attribution in Scott's "Ballads of America," 1966. It also appears this online page from Frank Petersohn - Kritik & Anregung (http://ingeb.org/songs/itwaeaea.html). A standard Irish first stanza was added to O'Lochlainn's:
My Boy Willie
1. It was early, early all in the Spring,
That my boy Willie went to serve the King,
The night was dark and the wind blew high;
It was then I lost my dear sailor boy.
2. The night is long and I can find no rest,
The thought of Willie runs in my breast,
I'll search the green woods and village wide,
Still hoping my true love to find.
3. "Oh, father, father, give me a boat,
Out on the ocean that I may float,
To watch the big boats as they pass by,
That I might enquire for my sailor boy."
4. She was not long out upon the deep,
When a man-o-war vessel she chanced to meet,
Saying, "Captain, captain, now tell me true,
If my boy Willie is on board with you."
5. "What sort of boy is your Willie dear,
Or what sort of a suit does your Willie wear?"
"He wears a suit of the royal blue,
And you'll easy know him for his heart is true."
6. "Oh, then your boy Willie, I am sorry to say,
Has just been drowned the other day,
On yon green island that we pass by,
'Twas there we laid your poor sailor boy."
7. She wrung her hands and she tore her hair,
And she sobbed and sighed in her despair,
And with every sob she let fall a tear,
And every sigh was for her Willie dear.
8. "O, father, make my grave both wide and deep,
With a fine tombstone at my head and feet;
And in the middle a turtle dove
That the world may know that I died of love."
9. Come all you sailors who sail along
And all you boatmen who follow on.
From the cabin-boy to the mainmast high
Ye must mourn in black for my sailor boy.
In the UK the ballad is still popular due in part to the recordings made by second generation ballad singers of the 1900s including Harry Cox, Phoebe Smith, Maggie Stewart, Elizabeth Stewart, Danny Brazil, Mike Waterson, Liz Jefferies and Fred Jordan. The ITMA has several recent traditional recordings sung at pubs in Dublin that may be heard online.
For more details see the Main Headnotes page and the Recordings & Info pages.
R. Matteson 2017]
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Footnotes:
1. The two versions of Archaic C from America are: 1) "Mermuring Side" written by Captain Samuel Bunker, c. 1824 in the log of the whaling ship Alexander of Nantucket, Massachusetts and 2) "The Sailor Boy." Communicated by Mr. J. Harrison Miller, Wardensville, Hardy County, June, 1917; brought into the community sixteen years before by Matilda Heishman. From Folk Songs of the South, Cox 1925.
2. See: Sam Noble, Able Seaman: 'tween Decks in the Seventies : an Autobiography; 1926.
3. The confusion is evident in the song notes and commentary in the JFSS and JAF as well as in most printed analyses of Died for Love and/or Sailor Boy from that time to today. The confusion caused the two different ballads to be at times lumped together without an understanding of how Hollings composite may have been created. Since Hollings ballad had stanzas similar to Butcher Boy they most likely came from one of three obvious sources, They were: 1) imported from America; 2) came from the rare Scottish variants with the suicide; or 3) came from the presumed missing print of Butcher Boy which would be the source of American versions.
4. It's obvious the other ballad Baring-Gould was referring to was "Died for Love."
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CONTENTS:
Sailor Boy- (Limerick) c.1770 Goggin broadside [Oikotype A]
Sailing Trade (Edinburgh) 1800 J. Morren, chapbook [Oikotype B]
The Sailor Boy- (London) 1810 Merry Songs, J Evans [Oikotype C]
Sailor Boy- Tom Sweetman (Wex) c.1817 Kennedy [Oikotype A]
Sailor Boy & his Faithful Mary- (Lon) c.1820 Pitts [Oikotype D]
Sailor Boy- K. L. (London) 1862 Monthly Packet [Oikotype D]
Young Lady's Lamentation- (Dub) 1867 P. Brereton [Oikotype A]
Early, Early All in the Spring- Hollings(Lin) 1870 [Oikotype A]
My Love William- Sam Noble (Dundee) c.1875 [Oikotype D]
Sailing Trade- Mary Guthrie (Aber) 1876 Christie
The Constant Lover and her Sailor Boy- (IR) c.1880
Sailor Boy- (Lon) 1891 Ashton; Real Sailor Songs
Sweet William- Mrs. Harley (Worc) 1893 Broadwood
Sailor's Life- Willie Mathieson (Aber) 1894 REC
Sweet William- J. Woodrich (Dev) 1894 B. Gould
My Fine Sailor Boy- Hugh Quinn (Belf) c.1895 Rawn
A Sailor's Life- Henry Hills (Sus) 1899 Merrick
Sweet William- T. Sprachlan (Som) 1903 Sharp MS
A Sailor's Life- Jake Toms (Dorset) 1905 Hammond
Early Early All in the Spring- Gulliver (Som) 1905
A Sailor's Life - R. Barratt (Dorset) 1905 Hammond
A Sailor's Life- Mrs. Small (Sus) 1905 Broadwood
Sailor Boy- Ann Hiles (Linc) 1905 Grainger
Sweet William- Robert Slade (Dors) 1906 Hammond
Fetch Me My Boat- Mrs. King (Hamp) 1906 Gardiner
Sweet William- Job Read (Hamp) 1906 Gardiner
Sailor Boy- Mr. Gordge (Som) 1906 Sharp MS
Sailor Boy- J. W. Spence (Fyvie) c.1906 Greig D
Sailin's a weary life- Mrs Greig(Aber)1906 Greig E
Sweet William- William Bone (Hamp) 1907 Gardiner
Sweet William- G. Baldwin (Hamp) 1907 Gardiner
Sweet William- Mrs. Mundy (Hamp) 1907 Gardiner
Down By Some River- Mr. Flint (Surrey) 1907 RVW
As I Walked Forth- M. Mills (Hamp) 1907 Gardiner
I'll Sit Me Down- P. Malone (Hamp) 1907 Gardiner
Father Made Me a Boat- Jones (Hamp) 1907 Gardiner
Sailing Trade- Robert Chree (Aber) 1907 Greig A
Sailor Boy- Arthur Barron (Aber) c.1907 Greig F
A Sailor's Life- J. Alexander (Aber) c.1907 Greig
Early All in the Spring- Lane (Glou) 1908 Grainger
Write a Little Song- George Say (Som) 1908 Sharp
A Sailor's Life- James Lovell (Som) 1908 Sharp MS
Sailor Boy- Annie Ritchie (Aber) 1908 Greig C
Sailing Trade- Annie Shirer (Aber) 1908 Greig I
Sailing Trade- Anon (Aber) c.1908 Greig J
BrokenHearted Lover- Anderson (Ab) 1908 Greig K
Young Sailor Boy- Mrs. Duncan (Aber) 1908 Greig L
Sweet William- Anon (Sussex) c.1908 Gardiner MS
Jacket Blue- (Antrim) pre1909 Patrick Joyce
Sailing Trade- Kate Mitchel (Aber) c.1909 Grieg B
Father, Build me a Boat- Mrs. Collinson (Wes) 1909
Young Lady's Lamentation- (Dub) 1909 broadside
Father Get Me a Little Boat-(Suf) 1909 Butterworth
Father Build Me Boat- Bowker (Lanc) 1909 Gilchrist
Sailor Boy- Annie Taylor (Aber) c1910 REC
Early All in the Spring- Yeldman(Essex) 1911 Carey
A Sea Song- Andrew Dobson (Surrey) 1912 Carey
Sailor Boy- John Puffet (Glou) 1916 A. Williams
Sweet William- 100 English Folk Songs 1916 Sharp
Early One Morning- N. Ridley (Kent) 1928 MacColl
Father Build Me a Boat- Anon (Kerry) 1930 Hughes
A Seaman's Life- Hill/Wasp (Suf) 1931 Moeran
Henry Dear- Frances Repetto (TC) c.1938 Munch
My Boy Willie- Joe Heaney (Gal) c1938 REC
My Boy Willie- Anon (Dublin) 1939 O Lochlainn
Sailor Boy- Dick Duncan (Angus) c.1940 REC
A Sailor's Life- Anon (UK) c.1948 Collinson MS
Dear Father, Pray Build Me a Boat-Smith (Sus) 1952
My Willie Boy- Jimmy MacBeath (Moray) 1952 REC
Come, Father, Build Me a Boat- Scamp (Kent) 1954
Sailor Boy- Geordie Robertson (Aber) 1954 REC
Sailor Boy- Mrs. Houston (Aber) 1954 Collinson
William Boy- Maggie Stewart (Kinc) 1954 REC
Sweet William- Harry Cox (Norfolk) 1956 REC
Sailor's Life- Elsie Morrison (Moray) 1956 REC
Early, Early All In The Spring- Hammond (Bel) 1958
Lost Sailor- Simon McDonald (AU) 1959 O'Connor
The Sailor Boy- Lucy Stewart (Aber) 1959 REC
My Love Willie- Danny Brazil (Glou) 1966 Shepheard
Sailor Boy- Jessie MacDonald (Aber) 1968 Hall
Sweet William- Birkett (Cum) 1974 M. Waterson
Early in the Month of Spring- McCarthy(Kerry) 1974
Sweet William- Phoebe Smith (Suf) c.1975 Yates
Early, early in the Spring- N. Perks (Glou) c.1975
Willie, The Bold Sailor Boy- Jefferies (Wex) 1976
My Boy Willie- Maggie McPhee (Aber) 1977 MacColl
Little Boy Billee- Bob Roberts (Suf) 1977 REC
Willie-O: Maggie Murphy (Ferm) 1982 Yates
Early in Spring- Fred Whiting (Suf) 1985 Howson
O Captain, Captain- Mabel Skelton (Angus) 1985
Sailin's a Weary Life- Eliz Stewart (Aber) 1987
Sweet William- Fred Jordan (Shrop) c. 1990 REC
My Love Willie- Tim Lyons (Dub) 1998 REC
Sweet William- Viv Legg (N. Corn) c.2000 REC
My Sailor Boy- Ann Wilson (Dub) 2002 REC
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Notes, missing versions:
Traditional Ballad Airs: Volume 1 [notes]
edited by William Christie, 1876
This Air was arranged from the singing of the Editor‘s mother, and from another copy got in Banffshire. The Ballad was arranged by the Editor from the recitation of his mother. and from the recitation of the person from whom the other copy of the Air was noted. in the four lines commencing, "If thousand thousands were in a room'.’ is the same idea as in "The Prickly Rose’) p. 227. The Air was calm sung to a traditional Ballad "My love was lost on the liumilliesi‘ The Ramillies was lost in Feb. 1760. (See Hume and Smollet‘s History, p. 545.)
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Penguin Book Of English Folk Songs, Ed Pellow's rendition of the tune of A Sailor's Life
From the notes to the Penguin Book (1959):
"This favourite song has an obscure connection with another popular piece sometimes called Died For Love (from which the students' song There is a Tavern in the Town has descended). Though it lacks the central story of the girl's ocean search for her sweetheart, Died For Love has a similar tune, and some versions use the opening stanza of A Sailor's Life. In revenge, some sets of A Sailor's Life borrow the conclusion of the other song, with the girl directing that her grave be dug wide and deep, and a white turtle dove be put on it, to show that she "died for love". In fact, various singers seem to have "cross-pollinated" the two songs in several ways. Mr. Hills' version has a story at once completer and more concise than usual, and less contaminated with Died For Love. In England, the song has been reported, sometimes under the titles of Sweet William, or Early, Early all in the Spring, from Lincolnshire (FSJ vol.II [issue 9] pp.293-4), Dorset (FSJ vol.VIII [issue 34] p.212), Worcestershire (English County Songs, L.E. Broadwood, 1893), Somerset (English Folk Songs, vol.II, Cecil Sharp, 1921), and Suffolk (Six Suffolk Folk Songs, E.J. Moeran, 1932). Kidson (A Garland of English Folk Songs, 1926, p.92) prints a set of unidentified origin. Pitts and Catnach both published broadsides of the song (the latter called it The Sailor Boy and his Faithful Mary ). It seems particularly common in the United States, and has been adapted to the life of timber-raftsmen." -R.V.W./A.L.L.
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Online RV Williams site (Roud)
Sailor's Life
Roud Folksong Index (S250829)
First Line:
Source: Gwilym Davies Collection
Performer: Smith, Biggin
Date: 1993 (16 Oct)
Place: England : Gloucestershire : Minsterworth
Collector: Davies, Gwilym
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Travellers' Songs from England and Scotland - Page 122 [notes]
Ewan Maccoll, Peggy Seeger - 2015
There are several stock openings:
1 A Sailor's life is a merry life,
He'll rob young girls of their heart's delight;
Then go and leave them to sigh and moan,
No tongue can tell when he will return.
This is the most common opening, but in America
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The ballad of America: John Anthony Scott - 1966 [reprints part 1939 Irish version, composite]
Sweet William
This song came to America from Britain in colonial days. Taken by pioneers all the way from the east coast to California, it underwent many changes of lyric, and was used as a commentary on all kinds of tragic experiences in
On the frontier and in the logging camps, under the title "The Pinery Boy," it bewailed the hard, dangerous life of the lumberman. During the gold
The lyric is a composite, put together from dozens of partial and corrupted texts that have been left to us.
2. The night is long and I can find no rest,
The thought of Willie runs in my breast;
I'll search the green woods and village wide
Still hoping my true love for to find.
3. A soldier's life is a cruel life,
It robs young ladies of their heart's delight,
Causes them to weep and causes them to mourn
The loss of their true love never to return.
4. "Father, father build me a boat,
That on the ocean I may float,
I'll hail every vessel that passes by,
There to inquire for my sweet soldier boy."
5. She had not been sailing far on the main,
When she spied a ship coming in from Spain:
"Captain, oh captain, tell me true,
If my sweet William is with your crew."
6. "What was the color of your true love's hair?
What kind of rig did your true love wear?"
"His eyes were blue, his lips like wine,
Ten thousand thousand times they've met with mine."
]
7. "Lady lady, he is not here;
He was killed in battle, my dear.
At the head of Rocky Island, as we passed by,
There we left your sweet soldier boy."
8.
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The Lovely Sailor Boy [unknown source- from online]
When the press gang was abroad many a young maiden lost her Willy to the sea.
It was early, early all in the Spring
When my love Willy went to serve the king,
The night blew dark, the wind blew high
That parted me from my sailor boy.
Oh, father, father bring me a boat
Out on the ocean that I may float
And there's not a ship that I'll pass by
But I'll inquire for my sailor boy.
She had not sailed but a day or two
When she fell in with a bloody crew,
Saying "Captain, Captain, tell me true
Does my love Willy sail aboard with you?"
"What sort is he your Willy dear?
And what's the suit that he does wear?"
"He wears a suit of the navy blue,
You'll know him surely for his heart so true."
"But every sailor wears the blue
And every sailor's heart is true,
So tell me maiden, fair and kind,
More of this man that you would find."
"He's tall and handsome, brave and free
And on his cheek for all to see
A dimple comes all with his smile
A maiden's heart all to beguile."
"My dearest creature he is not here
For he is drowned,I greatly fear,
On yon green isle as we passed by
We gently laid your sailor boy."
She wrung her hands and tore her hair,
And sobbed and sighed in her dispair,
Her boat upon the rocks she ran
And would not live without her man.
Ten seamen, dress them all in black,
Ten Captains 'rayed in cloth of sack,
Ten cabin boys on mainmast high
To mourn me and my sailor boy.
I'll sit me down and I'll make a song,
I'll write it large and I'll write it long,
With every word I'll shed a tear
And every line will be Willy Dear
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Maud Karpeles Manuscript Collection (MK/3/204)
Sweet William - 5 stanzas no source [prob. NL] she collected a version with Kennedy in Ireland, 1952
First Line: A soldier's trade is a cruel life
Collector: Karpeles, Maud P.
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A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes/Nursery Songs/XXXVI. IF I HAD TWO SHIPS
Baring-Gould
If I had two ships on the ocean,
Both laden with silver and gold,
I'd give them both to my sweet William,
My sailor so true and so bold.
Both to my Willy, both to my Willy,
My sailor so true and so bold.
If I had two wings of an angel,
To fly o'er the ocean so blue,
I'd fly to the arms of sweet William,
My sailor so bold and so true.
Fly to my William, etc.
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Lucy Broadwood Manuscript Collection (LEB/4/28)
see Baring-Gould's letter 1894
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The Lost Boy- other Aussie versions [based on Simon McDonald's version?]
Cathie O'Sullivan singing The Lost Sailor on the “Australian” CD of the Song Links anthology.
Australian version: under the title of 'The Lost Sailor' on the record Martyn Wyndham-Read (leader LER 2028, 1971).
----------------------
One popular release from the early 1970s featured the Irish Bothy Band’s Triona Ni Dhomhnaill singing “The Sailor Boy,” as shown in Figure 3. This contrasts with Figure 4, “A Sailor’s Life,” as sung by Sandy Denny of the English group Fairport Convention, recorded in 1969. The Bothy Band's version from their Out of the Wind, Into the Sun recording features bright-edged vocals against a deliberate, almost militaristic tempo, in contrast, the Fairport Convention recording favours a meditative pace, superimposing a broadly textured vocal line against an ebbing and swelling accompaniment of electric guitar and synthesized violin.34 This recording is especially notable since it is thought to be the first instance of an English folk group “going electric.”3 The 1969 LP Unhalfbricking had limited release in North America but was reissued in CD format circa 1994.36 Since these groups recorded their versions, a number of traditional musicians have also covered the song
4 Malcolm Douglas posted this notice on
www.folkinfo.org/forumAopic
on March 30, 2003: “In the 1960s,
Fairport Convention recorded an arrangement of “A Sailor’s Life” on their seminal folk-rock album Liege an Leaf,
this was the version noted by W. Percy Merrick from Henry Hills of Lodsworth, in 1899, first published in the Journal of the Folk Song Society, vol. 1 issue 3, 1901, pp. 99-100.”
-----------------
[print version]
A sailor's life is a merry life:
They rob young girls of their heart's delight,
Leaving them behind to sigh and mourn:
They never know when they will return.
Here's four and twenty in a row;
My sweetheart cuts the brightest show.
He's proper, tall, genteel withal,
And if I don't have him I'll have none at all.
"O father, fetch me a little boat
That I might on the ocean float,
And every queen's ship that we pass by
I'll make enquire for my sailor boy."
We had not sailed long upon the deep
Before a queen's ship we chanced to meet.
"You sailors all, come tell me true,
Does my sweet Willam sail among your crew?"
"Oh no, fair lady, he is not here,
For he is drown-ed, we greatly fear.
On yon green island as we passed by
There we lost sight of your sailor boy."
She wrung her hands and she tore her hair.
Much like a woman in great despair.
Her little boat 'gainst a rock did run:
"How can I live now my William is gone?"
Palmer, Roy (ed),(1986),Oxford Book of Sea Songs,Oxford, OUP
Notes:
Roy Palmer's references are:
Journal of the Folk Song Society I, 99: sung by Henry Hills, Lodsworth, Sussex; noted by W.P. Merrick, 1899. Australian version: under the title of 'The Lost Sailor' on the record Martyn Wyndham-Read (leader LER 2028, 1971). Broadside: Madden 18/853. Laws K12
From the notes to the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs: (which prints the same version as here):
This favourite song has an obscure connection with another popular piece sometimes called Died For Love (from which the students' song There is a Tavern in the Town has descended). Though it lacks the central story of the girl's ocean search for her sweetheart, Died For Love has a similar tune, and some versions use the opening stanza of A Sailor's Life. In revenge, some sets of A Sailor's Life borrow the conclusion of the other song, with the girl directing that her grave be dug wide and deep, and a white turtle dove be put on it, to show that she "died for love". In fact, various singers seem to have "cross-pollinated" the two songs in several ways. Mr. Hills' version has a story at once completer and more concise than usual, and less contaminated with Died For Love. In England, the song has been reported, sometimes under the titles of Sweet William, or Early, Early all in the Spring, from Lincolnshire (FSJ vol.II [issue 9] pp.293-4), Dorset (FSJ vol.VIII [issue 34] p.212), Worcestershire (English County Songs, L.E. Broadwood, 1893), Somerset (English Folk Songs, vol.II, Cecil Sharp, 1921), and Suffolk (Six Suffolk Folk Songs, E.J. Moeran, 1932). Kidson (A Garland of English Folk Songs, 1926, p.92) prints a set of unidentified origin. Pitts and Catnach both published broadsides of the song (the latter called it The Sailor Boy and his Faithful Mary ). It seems particularly common in the United States, and has been adapted to the life of timber-raftsmen
--------------
‘The Sailor Boy’ sung by The Bothy Band’. Triona Ni Dhomhnaill
Out of the Wind, Into the Sun (additional verses from Colm O'Loughlainn's Irish street ballads
THE SAILOR BOY
It was early, early, all in the spring
When my love Willie went to serve the king.
The night being dark and the wind blew high,
Which parted me from my sailor boy.
Oh father, father, build me a boat,
For on the ocean I mean to float,
To watch the big ships as they pass by,
For I might enquire for my sailor boy.
She had not sailed in but a week or two
When she spied a captain and all his crew.
"Oh, captain, captain, come tell me true.
Does my love Willie sail on board with you?"
"What was the colour of your Willie’s hair?
What is the colour that your Willie wear?"
"A royal blue jacket and these trousers white
And it’s curly-haired was my heart’s delight."
"Oh, fair maid, fair maid, he is not here,
For he’s lost or drowned and I am afraid,
For in yon green island as we passed by,
‘Twas there we lost our fine sailor boy."
She wrung her hands and she tore her hair,
Just like a lady in deep despair.
She called for paper, both pen and ink,
And every night she did drop a tear,
And every word she calls "Willie dear".
"So father, father, go dig my grave.
Go dig it long and go dig it wide.
Place a marble stone at my head and feet
That the world may know that I died of grief."
-------------
Sailor's Life
Roud Folksong Index (S338520)
First Line: Oh father, father build me a boat
Source: Ruairidh Greig Collection
Performer: Kydd, Jessie
Date:
Place: England : Lincolnshire : Grimsby
Collector: Greig, Ruairidh
-------------
Sweet William
Roud Folksong Index (S191866)
First Line: Oh early, early all in spring
Source: BBC recording 22372
Performer: Clifford, Teresa
Date: 1955 (14 Mar)
Place: Scotland : Glasgow
Collector: Ennis, Seamus
--------------
My Boy Willie
Roud Folksong Index (S155211)
First Line: One morning early in the year
Source: Seeger & MacColl, Singing Island (1960) p.28
Performer: Henry, Betsy
Date:
Place: Scotland : Perthshire : Auchterarder
Collector:
Roud No: 273
Sweet William
Roud Folksong Index (S191869)
First Line: Was early early all in the spring
Source: BBC recording 29820
Performer: Yeldham, Clifford
Date: 1962 (24/25 Nov)
Place: England : Essex : Thaxted
Collector: Hyman, Joy
--------------------
Sweet William
Roud Folksong Index (S191863)
First Line: Oh father, father build me a boat
Source: BBC recording 19067
Performer: Phillips, Ben (Ben Bach)
Date: 1952 (17 Oct)
Place: Wales : Pembrokeshire : Lochtwrffin
Collector: Ennis, Seamus
Roud No: 273
Sweet William
Roud Folksong Index (S191867)
First Line: 'Twas early early in the month of May
Source: BBC recording 22404
Performer: Dirrane, Margaret
Date: 1955 (Jun)
Place: Ireland : Aran Islands : Kilronan
Collector: Cowell, Sidney Robertson
Roud No: 273
Sweet William
Roud Folksong Index (S191862)
First Line: Early early on the month of Spring
Source: BBC recording 18302
Performer: Smith, Lal
Date: 1952 (24 Jul)
Place: N. Ireland : Belfast
Collector: Kennedy, Peter / O Boyle, Sean
Roud No: 273
Early Early All in the Spring
Roud Folksong Index (S204143)
First Line: 'Twas early early all in the spring
Source: Folktracks 60-183 (`Tam Buie')
Performer: Maguire, Kathleen
Date: 1955 (Jul)
Place: Scotland : Perthshire : Blairgowrie
Collector: Kennedy, Peter
Roud No: 273
Sweet Willie
Roud Folksong Index (S222812)
First Line: ....make me a boat
Source: Topic 12TS 349 / People's Stage 08
Performer: Isaacs, Sophie
Date: 1974-1976
Place: England : Devon
Collector: Richards, Sam / Tish Stubbs / Paul Wilson
Roud No: 273
-----------------
My Boy Willie
Roud Folksong Index (S155212)
First Line: 'Twas early all in the spring
Source: Morton, Folksongs Sung in Ulster (1970) pp.11-12
Performer: Williamson, Bob
Date:
Place: N. Ireland : Co. Tyrone : Moy
Collector: Morton, Robin
----------------
Journal - Volumes 3-4 - Page 171
https://books.google.com/books?id=6hMmAQAAIAAJ
Irish Folk Song Society - 1967
Irish Folk Song Society. reprinted from 1920
5 " Oh your love Willie, I'm sorry to say,
Has just been drownded the other day.
On yon green island, as we passed by,
'Twas there we laid your poor sailor boy."
6 " Oh father, make my grave both wide and deep,
---------------
The Irish Book Lover ... - Volumes 9-13 - Page 109
https://books.google.com/books?id=nI2jWRRmTfUC
John Smyth Crone, Seamus O'Cassidy, Colm O Lochlainn - 1917 -
As regards the songs given, I heard " The Sailor Boy " sung by a middle-aged woman in "the 'sixties " in Co. Antrim, where curiously enough, Colm O'Loehlainn heard it sung a few years ago.
-------------
Mrs. Hollings, a charwoman, I presume learnt the words in Lincolnshire, when a child. Versions of this song and air are printed in several collections. Compare with "Sweet William" in English County Songs; "A Sailor's Life," Folk-Song Journal (Vol. i, p. 99); "The Sailing Trade," Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs (Vol. i); Mr. Sharp's Folk-Songs from Somerset, 3rd series.
Irish versions of the air appear under the name of "The Bastard" in Alfred Moffat's Minstrelsy of Ireland, and as "Early, early all in the Spring" in The Complete Petrie (No. 765). This last-named is, however, not satisfactory as a melody or perhaps as noted. The curious rhythm of the air and the changeable way in which Mrs. Hollings sang it made it very difficult to put into regular notation. I submit the copy as it stands—being as near the singer's intention as I could get it.
—F. K.
The rhythm of this tune is irregular: bars three and five are in £ time not 2, unless the words have been wrongly distributed.—C. J. S.
The air has a far more uncommon and interesting shape in § time, but then, as Mr. Sharp says, the words want re-arranging.—J. A. F. M.
--------------------------
Journal - Volumes 4-6 - Page 17
https://books.google.com/books?id=FpsJAQAAMAAJ
English Folk Dance and Song Society - 1940 - Snippet view - More editions
In this last version two different ballads seem to have been confused, as " O father, father, build me a boat " is properly a lament for " a sailor boy, Jimmy" lost from " a Queen's ship," which I also had from a Westmorland singer to a variant of
----------
The set recorded by Ewan MacColl was collected by him from Betsy Henry of Auchterarder, Perthshire (n.d.) and published in MacColl and Seeger, The Singing Island, 1960, p. 28. A final verse is omitted on the record:
"O, dig my grave both wide and deep,
And lay a rose at my head and feet,
And on my breast a turtle dove,
To show the world that I died of love."
My Sailor Boy (My Boy Willie), Ewan MacColl, Matching Songs of the British Isles and America, Riverside RLP 12-637
MY SAILOR BOY
One morning early in the year
I parted from my dearest dear
The night was dark and the wind blew high
And the tears did blind me as he passed by
O, father, father, build me a boat
It's on the wild sea that I must go
Where I can watch the big ships go by
And where I can search for my sailor boy
She sailed away on the rolling tide
She sailed away on the ocean wide
She sailed by night and she sailed by day
Till a man-of-war came by that way
She cried and called in the wind so high
She hailed that ship as it passed her by
O, captain, captain, pray tell me true
Is my boy Willie aboard with you?
What sort of boy is your Willie, dear?
What sort of rig does your Willie wear?
He wears a suit of the royal blue
And you'll ken him fine for he's leal and true
I know him well and the other day
I saw him lying as cold as clay
By yon green isle that we passed by
He was lying there in the terror's eye
-------------
Early, Early, Cran, Music from the edge of the world, Black Horse Records BRRCD004, 2002 Cran write they had the song (Early, Early) from Johnny Magee, from Rosgor, Co. Fermanagh.
EARLY, EARLY
It was early, early all in the spring
When my love Willie went to serve the king.
The night being dark and the wind being high,
And they parted me and my sailor boy
Right well he knows that I can wash and wring
Right well he knows that I can card and spin.
I can make up his linens, be they coarse or fine
But the want of money leave s me behind
Come get me into a little wee boat
Where on the ocean that I might float
To view the French fleet as they pass by
That I might enquire for my sailor boy
O, she hadn't been long sailing on the deep
When the lofty French fleet she chanced to meet:
Come tell to me now, my bold ship's crew,
Does my love Willie sail on board of you?
O, no, fair maiden, you love's not here.
He has been drownded of late, I fear.
Near yon dark island that we passed by,
It is there that we lost your fine sailor boy
She wrung her hands and she tore her hair
Saying, I'm a maid that's in deep despair.
Against the rocks her wee boat she flung
Saying, What will I do now my love is gone?
Come get me ink, pen and paper too.
And with her pen, these few lines she drew,
And every word sure she shed a tear
And at every tear she cried, Willie dear!
Come dig my grave and dig it wide and deep
With a marble stone at my head and feet
And around my neck, place a turtle dove
For to warn the world that I died for love.
---------------------------
MS. version from Rev. S. Baring-Gould (Devonshire):
[tune only]
MS. version, noted by L. E. Broadwood, sung by Mr. Rugman, labourer, Dunsfold,
Surrey, 1898.
[tune only]
This is Pitt's broadside of 'The Sailor Boy,' and is published in a 'Garland.' Compare ' The Sailing Trade' of Christie's ' Traditional Ballad Airs.' Compare also 'Sweet William,' and ' All on Spurn Point,' in 'E nglish County Songs.'-L. E. 13.
Mly true love once he courted me,' as given in Kidson's' T'raditional Tunes,' p. 44 (first version). One copy printed by Catnach is entitled ' The Sailor Boy and his Faithful Mary.'-F. K.
---------------------
English Dance & Song - Volumes 45-48
https://books.google.com/books?id=ilVLAAAAYAAJ
1983
"I'll write a letter and I'll write it long,
In every line I'll compose a song,
In every line I'll shed a tear
And in every line, I'll cry Willie, dear."
"Then father, father, dig me my grave,
Oh, dig it long, both wide and deep,
Put a headstone to my head and ..
------------------
Answer to the Sailor boy (chapbook - Calleen Fuine)
"The Sailor Boy and His Faithful Mary.
lament for her sailor boy
---------------
The Faithful Lovers [related?]
Peggy Bonson's Garland Furnished with Some Delightful New Songs. 1770
Peggy Bonson's Garland Furnished with Some Delightful New Songs. I Pretty Peggy Bonson. II. A New Song in Praise of the Coal-Miners. III. The Faithful Lovers. IV. The Maid's Resolution to Follow Her Love. V. The Valliant Sailor. VI. The Young Girl's Love for Her Dear Billy
-----------------
Up Yon Wide and Lonely Glen: Travellers' Songs, Stories and Tunes of ...
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1617033081
Elizabeth Stewart, Alison McMorland - 2012 - Preview - More editions
O father, father build me a boat For it's on yon ocean that I may float And every vessel I will pass by I'll mak enquire for my sailor boy. Oh she hidna lang sailed upon the deep When manys a war vessel she chanced tae meet O Captain, Captain .
--------
Journal - Volumes 4-6 - Page 17
https://books.google.com/books?id=FpsJAQAAMAAJ
English Folk Dance and Song Society - 1940 - Snippet view - More editions
See also English County Songs for a distinct variant, " Sweet William " with the opening : " O father, father, build me a boat," the lover in this case having been lost or missing at sea. The last two lines of this Bewdley singer were emphasised in
Ulster Folklife - Volume 21 - Page 35
https://books.google.com/books?id=9xzaAAAAMAAJ
1975 - Snippet view - More editions
Father, father, build me a boat: 126. 143 FATHER McFADDEN 'Concerning Father McFadden that lies in Derry gaol' HMcG 6932 Gweedore. 144 FATHER TOM O'NEILL 'There was a widow lived in this town and she reared three darling sons' .
Songs Collected by Francis M. Collinson - jstor
www.jstor.org/stable/4521240
father, father, build me a boat " is properly a lament for " a sailor boy, Jimmy" lost from " a Queen's ship," which I also had from a Westmorland singer to a variant
Peter Kennedy Collection
Sheila Gallagher, Middle Dere, Donegal 1953. Tape 1
http://sounds.bl.uk/World-and-traditional-music/Peter-Kennedy-Collection/025M-C0604X0523XX-0001V0#_
8. The Sailor Boy (further talk, build me a boat) English [2'26"].- 20142: F. 1.
Died for Love
[Ralph Vaughan Williams Manuscript Collection (at British Library) (RVW2/5/24)
Died For Love?
First Line: As I walked out one may morning
so early in the spring,
I heard my true love sing,
Performer: Broomfield, Mr.
Date: 4 Dec 1903
Place: England : Essex : West Hornden
Collector: Vaughan Williams, Ralph
---------------
Missing versions:
A Sailor's Life Is a Merry Life [no text]
First Line: two lines given by Purslow no other text
Performer: Hunt, Mathew
Date: Jul 1906
Place: England : Dorset : Sherborne Almshouses
Collector: Hammond, H.E.D.
-------
Booklet to The Flax in Bloom CD3; has "Early, Early In The Month Of Spring" sung by Traveller Lal Smith from Kerry County. Lal Smith recorded in Belfast in 1952, by Kennedy.
--------------
Elizabeth Cronin, Irish traditional singer : the complete song collection
"It Was Early, Early In the Month of Spring"
----
Isla Cameron, Prestige International INT 13042, LP (1950s), trk# A.02 (Sweet William)
-------
Paddy Berry sings Sailor Boy on Wexford Ballads (1985) Sing Us a Song. Paddy Berry (Patrick Joseph Berry), born 12 October 1937, is a traditional Irish singer from Wexford, Ireland. Born and raised in Scar, Duncormick, Paddy Berry now lives in Drinagh, on the outskirts of Wexford Town. Paddy is a well known performer of local Wexford ballads, as well as a songwriter and song and folklore collector.
The Sailor Boy
Roud Folksong Index (S299270)
First Line: Sailor's trade is a weary life, A
Source: Berry, Wexford Ballads (1982) pp.32, 206
Place: Ireland : Co. Wexford
-------------
Cecil Sharp Manuscript Collection (at Clare College, Cambridge) (CJS2/10/1046)
Sweet William - one stanza, no info
First Line: O father dear father come buy me a boat
Performer:
Date: [18 Aug 1906?]
Place: [England : Somerset?]
Collector: Sharp, Cecil J.
-----------------------
Sweet William [see below]
Roud Folksong Index (S299690)
First Line: [no text]
Source: Clive Carey MSS (VWML) Sx 28 / nb 2/9; 11/9
Performer: Brown, Jack
Date: 1911 (27/28 Feb)
Place: England : Sussex : Trotton
Collector: Carey, Clive
* * * *
Clive Carey Manuscript Collection (CC/1/356) [no informant named]
Sweet William- 8 stanzas no source
First Line: A sailor's life is a merry life
Collector: Carey, Clive