The Sailor Boy- Lucy Stewart (Aber) 1959 REC
[From: School of Scottish Studies; Original Track ID - SA1960.141.B1
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/play/54802;jsessionid=AB4D477FA54DD100E5C27D51AFFC65AB
R. Matteson 2017]
The Sailor Boy- sung by Lucy Stewart (1901-1982) of Fetterangus, Aberdeenshire on December 26, 1959; recorded by Kenneth Goldstein.
Sailin', sailin's a weary life,
It's taen frae me my heart's delight,
It's left me here for to sigh and mourn,
For to wait upon my true love's return.
Oh bring to me paper, pen and ink,
The time to write my heart's content
And to every line I will drop a tear,
And to every line I'll put, "Billie dear."
Oh father, father sell me a boat,
That on the ocean I may float.
And ev'ry vessel I will pass by,
I'll make inquiry for my sailor boy.
She didn't sail long oh upon the deep,
Till a man o' war[1] ship she chanced to meet,
Oh captsin, captain come tell me true,
If my dear Willie 's on board with you?
What kind of clothes does your Billie wear?
What kind of clothes does your Billie wear?
His jacket's blue and his troosers white,
And the colour o' his hair is my heart's delight.
I doubt, I doubt, and I rather fear,
That your dear Billie he's not here,
For all last night as the wind blew high,
We lost a sailor on the top mast high.
She wrung her hands and she tore her hair,
Like any maid in wail despair,
She thrust her head up into a rope
Oh but where can I live since my Billie's gone
1. sung " man-y-war"