Vill, The Ship's Carpenter- (Scot) c.1908 Greig B
[From: Comic Songs and Recitations, with a selection of toasts and sentiments; 1861. It was reprinted in several books (1856 on) and as a broadside (c.1858 on).
In the 1850s a parody of The Gosport Tragedy titled, Molly The Betrayed or The Fog Bound Vessel, was made by or for the comic singer Sam Cowell [ref. Paul Slade]. According to Slade, "The ballad shops quickly printed up sheets using Cowell’s lyrics, hoping to capitalize on the popularity of his performance, and by 1855 it has some official sheet music too." The broadside was sung in a mock German accent resembling Yiddish, where "w" is pronounced as "v."
R. Matteson 2016]
Molly The Betrayed, or, The Fog Bound Vessel
In a kitchen in Portsmouth, a fair maid did dwell,
For grammar and grace none could her excel,
Young William, he courted her to be his dear,
And he by his trade was a ship’s carpentier.
Chorus: Singing doodle, doodle chop, chum, chow choral li la.
Now it chanced that von day, ven her vages vos paid,
Young Villiam valked vith her and thus to her said,
“More lovely are you than the ships on the sea,”
Then she hugged him and laughed, and said ”Fiddle-de-dee”.
Singing, doddle, &c.
Then he led her o’er hills, and down walleys so deep,
At length this fair damsel began for to veep;
Saying, ‘I fancy, sveet Villiam, you’ve brought me this vay
On porpos my hinnercent life to betray!’
Singing, doddle, &c.
He said, 'That is true. and we've no time to stand,’
And immediately took a sharp knife in his hand;
He pierc’d her best gown till the blood it did flow,
And into the grave her fair body did throw.
Singing, doddle, &c.
That night as asleep in his hammock he lay,
He fancied he heard some sperit to say,
‘Oh, vake up, young Villiam, and listen to hear,
The woice of your Molly what lov’d you so dear. "
Singing, doddlc, &c.
Your ship bound from Portsmouth it never shall go,
Till I am reveng’d for my sad overthrow,
The anchor is veigh’d, the vinds fair and strong,
But all is in vain, for your ship shan’t go on.’
Singing, doddle, &c.
Then up com’d the captain vith ‘Unfurl the sail!’
He guv’d his command, but all no avail,
A mist on the hocean arose all around,
And no vay to move this fine ship could be found.
Singing, doddle, &c.
Then he call’d up his men, with a shout and a whoop,
And he ordered young Villiam to stand on the poop
“There‘s summat not right,’ says he, "mongst this ’cre crew,
And I’m blow’d if I don't think, young Villiam, it's you.’
Singing doddle, &c.
Then Villiam turned red, and then Vite, and then green,
Vile Molly’s pale ghost at his side it vas seen;
Her buzzom vos vite, the blood it vos red,
She spoke not, but wanish’d—- and that’s all she said.
Singing, doddle, &c.
MORAL: Now all servant gals who my story does hear,
Just remember poor Molly and her ship’s carpentier,
If your sweethearts they axes you vith them to roam,
Just be careful to leave all your vages at home.
Singing, doddle, &c.