Ship Carpenter- Mrs. Barnes (Ham) c.1908 Gardiner MS
[My date, Gardiner collected from 1904 until about 1908, his collection was organized in 1909 and he died the next year. George Gardiner Manuscript Collection (GG/1/17/1102)
R. Matteson 2016]
The Ship Carpenter- sung by Mrs. Barnes of Hampshire, c. 1908.
In fair Worchester city in Worchestershire
A handsome young damsel she lived there
A handsome young man courted her to be his dear
And he was by trade a ship-carpenter.
Now the king wanted seamen to go on the sea
Which caused this young damsel to sigh and to say
Oh William, dear William, don't you go to sea.
Remember the vow that you made to me.
One morning so early before it was day,
He came to his Polly; these words he did say:
Oh Polly, oh Polly, you must go with me
Before we are married our friends for to see.
He led her through groves and valleys so deep
Which caused this young damsel to sigh and to weep.
Saying William, dear William, you've led me astray
On purpose my innocent life to betray.
It's true; it's true these words he did say,
For all this long night I've been digging your grave.
The grave has been open the spade standing by,
It caused this young damsel to sigh and to cry.[1]
It was early one morning before it was day,
The captain came up, these words he did say:
There's a murder on board and it's lately been done.
Our ship she's in mourning and cannot sail on.
Then up stepped one, indeed it's not me.
Then up stepped another, the same he did say.
Then up stepped young William, he stamped and he swear.
Indeed it's not me sir, I vow and declare.
As he was a-turning from the captain with speed,
He met his dear Polly, it made his heart bleed.
She stripped and she tore him, she tore him in three
For murdering her innocent baby and she.
1. Her version is missing several stanzas found in the broadside here.