Sailor Boy (London) 1891 Ashton; Real Sailor Songs
[No informant given. From: John Ashton's "Real Sailor Songs," Leadenhall Press, London, 1891. Ashton gives no information about the source of his song. It's very close to version B, printed in Edinburgh about 1800. Reprinted in Sea Songs and Ballads
edited by Christopher Stone, 1906.
R. Matteson 2017]
"The Sailor Boy"
1. THE sailing trade is a weary life,
It's robb'd me of my heart's delight,
And left me here in tears to mourn,
Still waiting for my love's return.
2. Like one distracted this fair maid ran,
For pen and paper to write her song,
And at ev'ry line she drop't a tear,
Crying alas! for Billy my dear.
3. Thousands, thousands all in a room,
My love he carries the brightest bloom,
He surely is some chosen one,
I will have him, or else have none.
4. The grass doth grow on every lea,
The leaf doth fall from every tree,
How happy that small bird doth cry,
That her true love doth by her lie.
5. The colour of amber is my true love's hair,
His red rosy cheeks doth my heart ensnare,
His ruby lips are soft, and with charms,
I'd fain lay a night in his lovely arms.
6. Father, father, build me a boat,
That on the ocean I may float;
And every ship that doth pass by,
I may enquire for my sailor boy.
7. She had not sail'd long on the deep,
Till a man of war she chanc'd to meet,
O sailor, sailor, send me word,
If my true love William be on board.
8. Your true love William is not here,
For he is kill’d and so I fear;
For the other day as we pass’d by,
We see'd him list in the Victory,
9. She wrung her hands and tore her hair,
Crying alas! my dearest dear,
And over board her body threw,
Bidding all worldly things adieu!