(words: traditional, music: Lissa S.)
source: “The Maine Woods Songster” edited by Phillips Barry, 1939
There was a fair maiden far crossed in love far crossed in love as it were o
Nothing could she find but to ease her fair mind
Than to stray all along the sea shore, stray all along the sea shore
There was a sea captain a ploughing the deep a ploughing the deep as is were o
Nothing could he find but to ease his sad mind
Than to sail all along the sea shore, sail all along the sea shore
Oh I have got silver and I have got gold and I have got costly wares o
All these I will give to my jolly seamen
If they’ll bring this fair damsel on board, bring this fair damsel on board
With many persuasions she came on board, the captain he welcomed her there o
He welcomed her down to his cabin below
Saying fair thee well sorrow and care, fair thee well sorrow and care.
She sang him a song it was at his request she sang it so sweet and so fair o
She sang it so sweet so neat and complete
That she sang the sea captain to sleep, sang the sea captain to sleep
Then she robbed him of silver she robbed him of gold, she robbed him of costly wares o
And the captain’s broad sword she used for an oar
As she paddled her boat to the shore, paddled her boat to the shore.
Oh were my men sleeping or were my men mad or were my men sunk in despair o
That the lady so gay should thus run away
When the captain he welcomed her there, the captain he welcomed her there.
No your men were not sleeping your men were not mad your men were not sunk in despair o
I deluded your crew and likewise you too
And again I’m a maid on the shore, again I’m a maid on the shore