The Fair Maid on the Shore- (Newfoundland) c. 1929 Karpeles A
[Karpeles; Folk Songs From Newfoundland, p.117-118, Version A. Lyrics at the bottom of the page from Karen James' Folkways recording- 1961, James recording uses parts of Karpeles A and B.]
THE FAIR MAID ON THE SHORE- collected from James Day at Fortune Harbor October, 1929 by Maud Karpeles Book I
It's of a sea-captain that ploughs the salt sea,
Where the seas they were fine calm and clear,
A beautiful damsel I chanced for to spy
A-walking along on the shore, shore,
A-walking along on the shore.
O what will I give my sailors so bold,
Ten guineas I vow and declare,
If you'll fetch me that lady on board of my ship,
That walks all alone by the shore, shore,
That walks alone by the shore.
The sailors they hoisted out a very long boat
And then to the shore they did steer,
Saying: Ma'am if you please will you enter on board
And view a fine cargo of ware, ware,
And view a fine cargo of ware.
She sat herself down in the stern of the boat,
And straight to the ship they did steer,
And when they arrived alongside of the ship,
The captain he ordered a chair for her,
The captain he ordered a chair.
She sat herself down in the stern of the ship
Where the seas were fine, calm and clear,
She sang the sea-captain and the crew asleep,
And her conjuring voice didn't spare, I declare,
And her conjuring voice didn't spare.
She loaded herself up with riches so great,
and all such costly ware,
The captain's broadsword she took for an oar,
And she paddled away to the shore, shore,
And she paddled away to the shore.
THE FAIR MAID ON THE SHORE- Adapted by Karen James from Folk Songs from Newfoundland collected by Maud Karpeles Book I.
There was a sea-captain who sailed the salt sea,
The seas were fine calm and clear, oh.
A beautiful maiden he chanced for to spy
As she walked all alone on the shore, shore,
She walked all alone on the shore.
Oh what will I give my sailors so bold?
Ten guineas I vow and declare, oh,
If you'll bring me that maiden on board of my ship,
That walks all alone by the shore, shore,
Walks alone by the shore.
So the sailors did hoist out a very long boat
And straight for the shore they did steer, oh.
Saying "Ma' am if you please for to enter on board
And view a fine cargo of ware, ware,
View a fine cargo of ware.
With long persuading she entered on board
The seas were fine calm and clear oh,
She seated herself in the stern of the boat
and straight for the ship they did steer, oh.
Straight for the ship they did steer.
When they drew alongside the ship the
captain he ordered a chair oh
Saying first you shall lie in my arms all this night,
And next you shall marry me, dear dear,
Next you shall marry me dear.
She seated herself in the stern of the boat.
The seas were fine calm and clear oh,
She sang so neat, sweet and complete,
She sang sailors and captain to sleep, sleep,
She sang sailors and captain to sleep.
She robbed them of silver, she robbed them of gold
She robbed them of fine costly ware oh.
The captain's broadsword the took for an oar,
And she 'paddled away for the shore, shore,
She paddled away for the shore.
When he awoke and found she was gone,
He was like a man in despair, oh.
He called up his men and commanded a boat,
And steered straight away for the shore, shore,
And steered straight away for the shore.
He seated himself in the stern of the boat,
The seas they were fine clam and clear, oh.
She saluted the captain as well as the crew
Saying I'm a maiden once more on the shore, shore,
I'm a maiden once more on the shore.