William Boy- Maggie Stewart (Kinc) 1954 REC
[From School of Scottish Studies; Original Tape ID - SA1954.102, Recorded by Hamlish Henderson. This version borrows the first stanza from the Died for Love family (Two Hearts) which had been used by Jeannie Robertson in her version of Died for Love. After the first two lines of the 2nd stanza she begins the Sailor Boy text. Maggie's unusual melody has a 2nd line (2nd phrase) which ends on minor chord.
Listen:
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/play/62079;jsessionid=CF74C3EB7C32CFA12948978938BB4971
R. Matteson 2017]
Summary - The singer hears the voice of her sweetheart, William. Her father builds her a bower and she asks him to build her a boat so she can go and find her sailor boy. She reaches his ship and enquires of the captain, telling him her William's hair was auburn, his eyes were blue and he wore a suit of blue. The captain tells her that he has drowned. She writes a letter asking that her grave be dug wide and deep and covered with lilies so people will know she died for love.
William Boy- sung by traveller Maggie Stewart born in Banchory, Kincardineshire in 1902.
William Boy- sung by Maggie Stewart, her mother's song (Jeannie Robertson)
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear,
What a voice what a voice of my William dear.
But if I had wings of the swallow that flies,
I would clasp in the arms of my William boy.
Oh my father build me a dandy bower,
With some fine roses and some fine flower.
Oh my father build me a boat,
It's on the ocean that I will float.
And ev'ry vessel I chance for to meet,
I will make inquires for my William boy.
Oh she was nee long out on the deep,
To a man-o' war vessel she chance for to meet,
Oh captain, captain come tell to me,
Is my William sails on board you?
What colour was your William's hair,
What kind of clothes did your William wear?
For her hair was auburn and his eyes were blue,
And he wore a suit of the royal blue.
Do you mind thon[1] night when the wind blew high,
Twas there we lost on a sailor boy,
Oh captain, captain bring me a pen and ink,
And it's on the this vessel that I will write.
For it's every word now she dropped a tear,
And every odd line[2] was her sweet William dear.
But if I had wings of the swallow that flies,
I would clasp my arms of my William boy.
Go dig me a grave so wide and so deep,
And cover me over with lilies so sweet
And cover me over with lilies so sweet
To let the world know I died for my true love.
1. Did you know (mind) the other night--
2. hard to understand