Sailor's Trade- Kathleen Denoon (MO) 1938 Rand C
[My title. From Vance Randolph, Ozark Folksongs, Vol. 1, British Ballads and Songs. Randolph reviews the various English and American texts, and notes that "Some very similar lines are found in "Captain, Oh Captain" as recorded phonographically by Vernon Dalhart." Only the first two verses of Dalhart's version are similar to tradition, the others are from an arranger.
Randolph's master title for Sailor Boy (Sailor's Sweetheart) is vague and usually used for other similar but different ballads.
R. Matteson 2017]
C. [Sailor's Trade]- Sung by Mrs. Kathleen Denoon, Springfield, Mo., Aug. 18, 1938.
A sailor's trade is a dreary life;
It robs poor girls of a heart's delight,
It causes them to weep and mourn
The loss of a true love never to return.
Oh brown be the color true lover's hair,
His cheeks was like a lily fair,
If ever 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 was heavy loaded as they could swim,
She hailed each captain as they passed by,
An' there she enquired for her sweet sailor boy.
Oh captain, captain, tell me true,
Does my sweet Willie sail with you?
Oh no, no, he is not here,
He got drowned in the gulf, my dear.
She wrang her hands an' tore her hair,
Like someone in deep despair,
If ever he returns it will bring me joy
For none can I love but my sweet sailor boy.
Oh dig my grave both wide an' deep,
Put a marble stone at my head an' feet,
An' on my breast a sweet little dove
To let the world know I died for love.