The Sea Captain- Gatts (PA) c. 1932 Bayard/Korson
[My date. From George Korson's Pennsylvania Songs and Legends, Univ. of Pennsylvania, Bk (1949), p 55. Recorded in the 1930s by Bayard. The informant, Thomas W. Gatts, was in his eighties at the time of the recording.
R. Matteson 2014]
The Sea Captain- Gatts c. 1932
1. There was a young lady distressed in mind,
The sea being ca'm and clear O!
And all she could find ease her sad mind
Was to wander along on the shore, O shore,
Was to wander along on the shore.
2. There was a sea captain that plowed the main,
The sea being ca'm and clear O!
I shall die, I shall die, the sea captain cried,
If I don't get that young lady fair, O fair,
If I don't get that young lady fair.
3. Oh, what will you take, my jolly bold sea,
To bring her aboard to me O?
Some projict of love runs strong in her mind
For to wander along on the shore, O shore,
For to wander along on the shore.
4. After long persuading, on board she went,
The sea being ca'm and clear O!
The captain invited her down in the cabin,
Saying, Fare you well sorrow and keer, O keer,
Saying, Fare you well sorrow and keer.
5. I'll sing you a song if you think it is best-
The captain he set her a cheer O!
She sung so sweet, so neat and complete,
She sung captain and sailors to sleep, O sleep,
She sung captain and sailors to sleep.
6. She robbed them of jewels, she robbed them of gold,
She robbed them of costly aware O!
The captain's broadsword she used for an oar,
And she paddled her boat to the shore, O shore,
And she paddled her boat to the shore.