Young Willie- Paddy McCluskey (Ant) 1953 Kennedy
[From: Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, 1956. Mike Waterson covered this version with the title: The Cruel Ship's Carpenter.
The first two stanzas have text from The Dublin Murder Ballad which was discovered in Scotland and Ireland in the 1950s.
R. Matteson 2016]
YOUNG WILLIE (THE CRUEL SHIP'S CARPENTER) - Sung by Paddy McCluskey, Clough Mills, Co. Antrim on 5th August, 1953. Recorded by Peter Kennedy and Sean O'Boyle.
1. Fair ones are shining on foreign earth and town,
There lived a young damsel, her name was Miss Brown;
She courted young Willie her darling to be
His trade's name and steady a ship's carpenter had been.
2. Early one morning, before it was day
A voice came to the window and unto her did say,
"Rise up, lovely Mary, and come along with me
Before you get married our friends we must see."
3. He led her through fields and through valleys so deep
Till at length lovely Mary begin for to weep
Saying: "Willie, lovely Willie you have led me all wrong (astray)
Through fields and through valleys my life for to betray."
4. "It's just the truth you say me; it's just the truth you say
For late, late last night I was digging your grave
Your grave that is open and a spade standing by
And into the grave your fair body must go (lie).
5. He stobbed her, he stobbed her till the red blood did flow
And into the grave her fair body did throw.
He hobbed her so neatly and he hobbed her so sound
Expecting this murder would never be found.
6. Early one morning before it broke day
Up came the captain and thus he did say,
"There's murder on shipboard has lately been done
Our good ship's in mourning and cannot sail on."
7. Up came a sailor: "Indeed, sir not I."
Up came another: "Indeed, sir not I."
But up came young Willie to damn, curse and swear,
"Indeed, sir, not I, sir, I vow and declare."
8. As Willie was going and turning around
He met lovely Mary she was dressed in brown.
She catched him, she catched him, she tore him in three,
Saying "That's for the murder of baby and me."