Sailor Boy- Anon (TX) 1950 Owens
[No informant named. From Texas Folk Songs by William A. Owens, 1950. His notes follow.
R. Matteson 2017]
THE SAILOR BOY
Apparently British in origin-it has been reported from both England and Ireland-this song has had widespread popularity in America. I have found it on several occasions in East Texas, but always as a fragment. In a fuller version the sailor's body is washed ashore and the maid views it. Six weeks later she is dead of grief, having left the request, "Go dig my grave both wide and deep." In some versions the last stanza is the same as that of "The Butcher's Boy."
Sailor's trade is a dreary life,
It robs poor girls of their heart's delight;
Causes them to weep and mourn
The loss of a true love never to return.
Oh, brown be the color of my true love's hair,
His cheeks is like some lily fair;
When he returns it'll bring me joy,
For none can I love but my sweet sailor boy.
She met three ships all come from Spain,
All heavy loaded as they could swim;
She hailed each captain as they passed by
And there she inquired for her sweet sailor boy.
"Captain, captain, tell me true,
Does sweet Willie sail with you?"
"No, no, he's not here;
He got drowned in the gulf, my dear."
She wrung her hands and she tore her hair
Like someone in deep despair.
"If ever he returns it'll bring me joy,
For none can I love but my sweet sailor boy."