289

THE MERMAID

A.‘The Seamen’s Distress,’ the second piece in The Glasgow Lasses Garland, British Museum, 11621. c. 3 (68). “Newcastle, 1765?”B. a.‘The stormy winds do blow,’ Chappell’s Popular Music of the Olden Time, p. 742.b.The same, p. 743.c.Notes and Queries, 6th Series, VII, 276.C.Communicated by Mr Chappell. Now printed in Old English Ditties, Oxenford and Macfarren, ‘The Mermaid,’ I, 206.D.‘The Mermaid.’a.Long, Dictionary of the Isle of Wight Dialect, 1886, p. 42.b.Broadside, H. Such, 177 Union St., Boro’.E. a.Motherwell’s MS., p. 145.b.‘The Bonnie Mermaid,’ Motherwell’s Minstrelsy, Appendix, p. xxiii, No XXX, one stanza.F.‘Greenland,’ Kinloch MSS, VII, 245.

A.‘The Seamen’s Distress,’ the second piece in The Glasgow Lasses Garland, British Museum, 11621. c. 3 (68). “Newcastle, 1765?”

B. a.‘The stormy winds do blow,’ Chappell’s Popular Music of the Olden Time, p. 742.b.The same, p. 743.c.Notes and Queries, 6th Series, VII, 276.

C.Communicated by Mr Chappell. Now printed in Old English Ditties, Oxenford and Macfarren, ‘The Mermaid,’ I, 206.

D.‘The Mermaid.’a.Long, Dictionary of the Isle of Wight Dialect, 1886, p. 42.b.Broadside, H. Such, 177 Union St., Boro’.

E. a.Motherwell’s MS., p. 145.b.‘The Bonnie Mermaid,’ Motherwell’s Minstrelsy, Appendix, p. xxiii, No XXX, one stanza.

F.‘Greenland,’ Kinloch MSS, VII, 245.

This is the ballad referred to under ‘Sir Patrick Spens,’ II, 19. It is still common as a broadside.

E a6 has taken a burlesque turn. It is scarcely worth while to attempt to account for the vagaries ofF, in which ‘the kemp o the ship’ takes the place of the mermaid, and the kaim and glass are exchanged for the bottle and glass. The first stanza ofFmay not belong here, or possibly (but not probably) a voyage to Greenland may have been lost from the other copies.

InB,C,D, the ship sails on Friday, against all good rules.

‘The Sailor’s Caution,’ the third piece in The Sailing Trade, Glasgow, Printed by J. and M. Robertson, Saltmarket, 1801, begins likeA, has a stanza (the fifth) representingA4, 5, and concludes thus, after a stanza (the sixth) resemblingA3:

The mermaid on the rock doth sit,With comb and glass in hand:‘Cheer up, cheer up, bold mariners,You are not far from land.‘So now cheer up, bold mariners,Or smother in the deep;All this I do for a sailor’s sake,Whilst losing of my sleep.‘Here is a token, bold mariners,A token of good will,And if ever that you come this way,’Tis here you’ll find me still.’

The mermaid on the rock doth sit,With comb and glass in hand:‘Cheer up, cheer up, bold mariners,You are not far from land.

The mermaid on the rock doth sit,

With comb and glass in hand:

‘Cheer up, cheer up, bold mariners,

You are not far from land.

‘So now cheer up, bold mariners,Or smother in the deep;All this I do for a sailor’s sake,Whilst losing of my sleep.

‘So now cheer up, bold mariners,

Or smother in the deep;

All this I do for a sailor’s sake,

Whilst losing of my sleep.

‘Here is a token, bold mariners,A token of good will,And if ever that you come this way,’Tis here you’ll find me still.’

‘Here is a token, bold mariners,

A token of good will,

And if ever that you come this way,

’Tis here you’ll find me still.’

British Museum, 11621. b. 13 (15).

The Glasgow Lasses Garland, the second piece, British Museum, 11621. c. 3 (68). “Newcastle, 1765?”

1As we lay musing in our beds,So well and so warm at ease,I thought upon those lodging-bedsPoor seamen have at seas.2Last Easter day, in the morning fair,We was not far from land,Where we spied a mermaid on the rock,With comb and glass in hand.3The first came up the mate of our ship,With lead and line in hand,To sound and see how deep we wasFrom any rock or sand.4The next came up the boatswain of our ship,With courage stout and bold:‘Stand fast, stand fast, my brave lively lads,Stand fast, my brave hearts of gold!’5Our gallant ship is gone to wreck,Which was so lately trimmd;The raging seas has sprung a leak,And the salt water does run in.6Our gold and silver, and all our cloths,And all that ever we had,We forced was to heave them overboard,Thinking our lives to save.7In all, the number that was on boardWas five hundred and sixty-four,And all that ever came alive on shoreThere was but poor ninety-five.8The first bespoke the captain of our ship,And a well-spoke man was he;‘I have a wife in fair Plymouth town,And a widow I fear she must be.’9The next bespoke the mate of our ship,And a well-bespoke man was he;‘I have a wife in fair Portsmouth,And a widow I fear she must be.’10The next bespoke the boatswain of our ship,And a well-bespoke man was he;‘I have a wife in fair Exeter,And a widow I fear she must be.’11The next bespoke the little cabbin-boy,And a well-bespoke boy was he;‘I am as sorry for my mother dearAs you are for your wives all three.12‘Last night, when the moon shin’d bright,My mother had sons five,But now she may look in the salt seasAnd find but one alive.’13‘Call a boat, call a boat, you little Plymouth boys,Don’t you hear how the trumpet[s] sound?[For] the want of our boat our gallant ship is lost,And the most of our merry men is drownd.’14Whilst the raging seas do roar,And the lofty winds do blow,And we poor seamen do lie on the top,Whilst the landmen lies below.

1As we lay musing in our beds,So well and so warm at ease,I thought upon those lodging-bedsPoor seamen have at seas.

As we lay musing in our beds,

So well and so warm at ease,

I thought upon those lodging-beds

Poor seamen have at seas.

2Last Easter day, in the morning fair,We was not far from land,Where we spied a mermaid on the rock,With comb and glass in hand.

Last Easter day, in the morning fair,

We was not far from land,

Where we spied a mermaid on the rock,

With comb and glass in hand.

3The first came up the mate of our ship,With lead and line in hand,To sound and see how deep we wasFrom any rock or sand.

The first came up the mate of our ship,

With lead and line in hand,

To sound and see how deep we was

From any rock or sand.

4The next came up the boatswain of our ship,With courage stout and bold:‘Stand fast, stand fast, my brave lively lads,Stand fast, my brave hearts of gold!’

The next came up the boatswain of our ship,

With courage stout and bold:

‘Stand fast, stand fast, my brave lively lads,

Stand fast, my brave hearts of gold!’

5Our gallant ship is gone to wreck,Which was so lately trimmd;The raging seas has sprung a leak,And the salt water does run in.

Our gallant ship is gone to wreck,

Which was so lately trimmd;

The raging seas has sprung a leak,

And the salt water does run in.

6Our gold and silver, and all our cloths,And all that ever we had,We forced was to heave them overboard,Thinking our lives to save.

Our gold and silver, and all our cloths,

And all that ever we had,

We forced was to heave them overboard,

Thinking our lives to save.

7In all, the number that was on boardWas five hundred and sixty-four,And all that ever came alive on shoreThere was but poor ninety-five.

In all, the number that was on board

Was five hundred and sixty-four,

And all that ever came alive on shore

There was but poor ninety-five.

8The first bespoke the captain of our ship,And a well-spoke man was he;‘I have a wife in fair Plymouth town,And a widow I fear she must be.’

The first bespoke the captain of our ship,

And a well-spoke man was he;

‘I have a wife in fair Plymouth town,

And a widow I fear she must be.’

9The next bespoke the mate of our ship,And a well-bespoke man was he;‘I have a wife in fair Portsmouth,And a widow I fear she must be.’

The next bespoke the mate of our ship,

And a well-bespoke man was he;

‘I have a wife in fair Portsmouth,

And a widow I fear she must be.’

10The next bespoke the boatswain of our ship,And a well-bespoke man was he;‘I have a wife in fair Exeter,And a widow I fear she must be.’

The next bespoke the boatswain of our ship,

And a well-bespoke man was he;

‘I have a wife in fair Exeter,

And a widow I fear she must be.’

11The next bespoke the little cabbin-boy,And a well-bespoke boy was he;‘I am as sorry for my mother dearAs you are for your wives all three.

The next bespoke the little cabbin-boy,

And a well-bespoke boy was he;

‘I am as sorry for my mother dear

As you are for your wives all three.

12‘Last night, when the moon shin’d bright,My mother had sons five,But now she may look in the salt seasAnd find but one alive.’

‘Last night, when the moon shin’d bright,

My mother had sons five,

But now she may look in the salt seas

And find but one alive.’

13‘Call a boat, call a boat, you little Plymouth boys,Don’t you hear how the trumpet[s] sound?[For] the want of our boat our gallant ship is lost,And the most of our merry men is drownd.’

‘Call a boat, call a boat, you little Plymouth boys,

Don’t you hear how the trumpet[s] sound?

[For] the want of our boat our gallant ship is lost,

And the most of our merry men is drownd.’

14Whilst the raging seas do roar,And the lofty winds do blow,And we poor seamen do lie on the top,Whilst the landmen lies below.

Whilst the raging seas do roar,

And the lofty winds do blow,

And we poor seamen do lie on the top,

Whilst the landmen lies below.

a.Chappell’s Popular Music of the Olden Time, p. 742.b.The same, p. 743, one stanza and the burden, contributed by Mr Charles Sloman, in 1840.c.Notes and Queries, 6th Series, VII, 276, communicated from memory by Mr Thomas Bayne, Helensburgh, N. B., stanzas 1, 6.

1One Friday morn when we set sail,Not very far from land,We there did espy a fair pretty maidWith a comb and a glass in her hand, her hand, her hand,With a comb and a glass in her hand.While the raging seas did roar,And the stormy winds did blow,While we jolly sailor-boys were up into the top,And the land-lubbers lying down below, below, below,And the land-lubbers lying down below.2Then up starts the captain of our gallant ship,And a brave young man was he:‘I’ve a wife and a child in fair Bristol town,But a widow I fear she will be.’For the raging seas, etc.3Then up starts the mate of our gallant ship,And a bold young man was he:‘Oh! I have a wife in fair Portsmouth town,But a widow I fear she will be.’For the raging seas, etc.4Then up starts the cook of our gallant ship,And a gruff old soul was he:‘Oh! I have a wife in fair Plymouth town,But a widow I fear she will be.’5And then up spoke the little cabin-boy,And a pretty little boy was he;‘Oh! I am more grievd for my daddy and my mammyThan you for your wives all three.’6Then three times round went our gallant ship,And three times round went she;For the want of a life-boat they all went down,And she sank to the bottom of the sea.

One Friday morn when we set sail,

Not very far from land,

We there did espy a fair pretty maid

With a comb and a glass in her hand, her hand, her hand,

With a comb and a glass in her hand.

While the raging seas did roar,

And the stormy winds did blow,

While we jolly sailor-boys were up into the top,

And the land-lubbers lying down below, below, below,

And the land-lubbers lying down below.

2Then up starts the captain of our gallant ship,And a brave young man was he:‘I’ve a wife and a child in fair Bristol town,But a widow I fear she will be.’For the raging seas, etc.

Then up starts the captain of our gallant ship,

And a brave young man was he:

‘I’ve a wife and a child in fair Bristol town,

But a widow I fear she will be.’

For the raging seas, etc.

3Then up starts the mate of our gallant ship,And a bold young man was he:‘Oh! I have a wife in fair Portsmouth town,But a widow I fear she will be.’For the raging seas, etc.

Then up starts the mate of our gallant ship,

And a bold young man was he:

‘Oh! I have a wife in fair Portsmouth town,

But a widow I fear she will be.’

For the raging seas, etc.

4Then up starts the cook of our gallant ship,And a gruff old soul was he:‘Oh! I have a wife in fair Plymouth town,But a widow I fear she will be.’

Then up starts the cook of our gallant ship,

And a gruff old soul was he:

‘Oh! I have a wife in fair Plymouth town,

But a widow I fear she will be.’

5And then up spoke the little cabin-boy,And a pretty little boy was he;‘Oh! I am more grievd for my daddy and my mammyThan you for your wives all three.’

And then up spoke the little cabin-boy,

And a pretty little boy was he;

‘Oh! I am more grievd for my daddy and my mammy

Than you for your wives all three.’

6Then three times round went our gallant ship,And three times round went she;For the want of a life-boat they all went down,And she sank to the bottom of the sea.

Then three times round went our gallant ship,

And three times round went she;

For the want of a life-boat they all went down,

And she sank to the bottom of the sea.

Communicated by Mr W. Chappell, as noted down by him from the singing of men dressed as sailors, on Tower Hill. Subsequently printed, with a few variations, in Old English Ditties, Oxenford and Macfarren, I, 206.

1One Friday morn as we’d set sail,And our ship not far from land,We there did espy a fair mermaid,With a comb and a glass in her hand, her hand, her hand,With a comb and a glass in her hand.While the raging seas did roar,And the stormy winds did blow,And we jolly sailor-boys were up, up aloft,And the landsmen were lying down below,And the landlubbers all down below, below, below,And the landlubbers all down below.2Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship,Who at once did our peril see;I have married a wife in fair London town,And tonight she a widow will be.’3And then up spoke the litel cabin-boy,And a fair-haired boy was he;‘I’ve a father and mother in fair Portsmouth town,And this night she will weep for me.’4Now three times round goes our gallant ship,And three times round went she;For the want of a life-boat they all were drownd,As she went to the bottom of the sea.

One Friday morn as we’d set sail,

And our ship not far from land,

We there did espy a fair mermaid,

With a comb and a glass in her hand, her hand, her hand,

With a comb and a glass in her hand.

While the raging seas did roar,

And the stormy winds did blow,

And we jolly sailor-boys were up, up aloft,

And the landsmen were lying down below,

And the landlubbers all down below, below, below,

And the landlubbers all down below.

2Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship,Who at once did our peril see;I have married a wife in fair London town,And tonight she a widow will be.’

Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship,

Who at once did our peril see;

I have married a wife in fair London town,

And tonight she a widow will be.’

3And then up spoke the litel cabin-boy,And a fair-haired boy was he;‘I’ve a father and mother in fair Portsmouth town,And this night she will weep for me.’

And then up spoke the litel cabin-boy,

And a fair-haired boy was he;

‘I’ve a father and mother in fair Portsmouth town,

And this night she will weep for me.’

4Now three times round goes our gallant ship,And three times round went she;For the want of a life-boat they all were drownd,As she went to the bottom of the sea.

Now three times round goes our gallant ship,

And three times round went she;

For the want of a life-boat they all were drownd,

As she went to the bottom of the sea.

a.Long, A Dictionary of the Isle of Wight Dialect, London, 1886, p. 142.b.H. Such, 177 Union St., Boro’.

1’Twas a Friday morning when we set sail,And our ship was not far from land,When there we spied a fair pretty maid,With a comb and a glass in her hand.Oh, the raging seas they did roar,And the stormy winds they did blow,While we poor sailor-boys were all up aloft,And the land-lubbers lying down below, below, below,And the land-lubbers lying down below.2Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship,And a mariner good was he;‘I have married a wife in fair London town,And this night a widow she will be.’3Then up spoke the cabin-boy of our gallant ship,And a brave little boy was he;‘I’ve a father and a mother in old Portsmouth town,And this night they will both weep for me.’4Then up spoke a seaman of our gallant ship,And a well-spoken man was he;‘For want of a long-boat we shall all be drowned,And shall sink to the bottom of the sea.’5Then three times round went that gallant ship,And down like a stone sank she;The moon shone bright, and the stars gave their light,But they were all at the bottom of the sea.

’Twas a Friday morning when we set sail,

And our ship was not far from land,

When there we spied a fair pretty maid,

With a comb and a glass in her hand.

Oh, the raging seas they did roar,

And the stormy winds they did blow,

While we poor sailor-boys were all up aloft,

And the land-lubbers lying down below, below, below,

And the land-lubbers lying down below.

2Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship,And a mariner good was he;‘I have married a wife in fair London town,And this night a widow she will be.’

Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship,

And a mariner good was he;

‘I have married a wife in fair London town,

And this night a widow she will be.’

3Then up spoke the cabin-boy of our gallant ship,And a brave little boy was he;‘I’ve a father and a mother in old Portsmouth town,And this night they will both weep for me.’

Then up spoke the cabin-boy of our gallant ship,

And a brave little boy was he;

‘I’ve a father and a mother in old Portsmouth town,

And this night they will both weep for me.’

4Then up spoke a seaman of our gallant ship,And a well-spoken man was he;‘For want of a long-boat we shall all be drowned,And shall sink to the bottom of the sea.’

Then up spoke a seaman of our gallant ship,

And a well-spoken man was he;

‘For want of a long-boat we shall all be drowned,

And shall sink to the bottom of the sea.’

5Then three times round went that gallant ship,And down like a stone sank she;The moon shone bright, and the stars gave their light,But they were all at the bottom of the sea.

Then three times round went that gallant ship,

And down like a stone sank she;

The moon shone bright, and the stars gave their light,

But they were all at the bottom of the sea.

a.Motherwell’s MS., p. 145.b.Motherwell’s Minstrelsy, Appendix, p. xxiii, No XXX, the first stanza.

1Up and spoke the bonny mermaid,Wi the comb and the glass in her hand;Says, Cheer up your hearts, my mariners all,You are not very far from the land.And the raging seas do foam, foam,And the stormy winds do blow,While we poor sailors must mount to the top,When the landsmen they lye low.2Out and spoke the captain of our ship,And a fine little man was he;‘O I’ve a wife in fair London town,And a widow this night she shall be.’3Out and spoke the mate of our ship,And a tight little man was he;‘O I’ve a wife in Dublin city,And a widow this night she shall be.’4Out and spoke our second mate,And a clever little man was he;‘Oh I have a wife in Greenock town,And a widow this night she shall be.’5Out and spoke our little prentice boy,And a fine little boy was he;‘Oh I am sorry for my mother,’ he said,‘As you are for your wives all three.’6Out and spoke the cook of our ship,And a rusty old dog was he;Says, I am as sorry for my pats and my pansAs you are for your wives all three.

Up and spoke the bonny mermaid,

Wi the comb and the glass in her hand;

Says, Cheer up your hearts, my mariners all,

You are not very far from the land.

And the raging seas do foam, foam,

And the stormy winds do blow,

While we poor sailors must mount to the top,

When the landsmen they lye low.

2Out and spoke the captain of our ship,And a fine little man was he;‘O I’ve a wife in fair London town,And a widow this night she shall be.’

Out and spoke the captain of our ship,

And a fine little man was he;

‘O I’ve a wife in fair London town,

And a widow this night she shall be.’

3Out and spoke the mate of our ship,And a tight little man was he;‘O I’ve a wife in Dublin city,And a widow this night she shall be.’

Out and spoke the mate of our ship,

And a tight little man was he;

‘O I’ve a wife in Dublin city,

And a widow this night she shall be.’

4Out and spoke our second mate,And a clever little man was he;‘Oh I have a wife in Greenock town,And a widow this night she shall be.’

Out and spoke our second mate,

And a clever little man was he;

‘Oh I have a wife in Greenock town,

And a widow this night she shall be.’

5Out and spoke our little prentice boy,And a fine little boy was he;‘Oh I am sorry for my mother,’ he said,‘As you are for your wives all three.’

Out and spoke our little prentice boy,

And a fine little boy was he;

‘Oh I am sorry for my mother,’ he said,

‘As you are for your wives all three.’

6Out and spoke the cook of our ship,And a rusty old dog was he;Says, I am as sorry for my pats and my pansAs you are for your wives all three.

Out and spoke the cook of our ship,

And a rusty old dog was he;

Says, I am as sorry for my pats and my pans

As you are for your wives all three.

Kinloch MSS, VII, 245. From the recitation of a little boy from Glasgow, who sang it in Grove St., Edinburgh, July, 1826.

1Greenland, Greenland, is a bonny, bonny place,Whare there’s neither grief nor flowr,Whare there’s neither grief nor tier to be seen,But hills and frost and snow.2Up starts the kemp o the ship,Wi a psalm-book in his hand:‘Swoom away, swoom away, my merry old boys,For you’ll never see dry land.’3Up starts the gaucy cook,And a weil gaucy cook was he;‘I wad na gie aw my pans and my kettlesFor aw the lords in the sea.’4Up starts the kemp o the ship,Wi a bottle and a glass intil his hand;‘Swoom away, swoom away, my merry old sailors,For you’ll never see dry land.’5O the raging seas they row, row, row,The stormy winds do blow,As sune as he had gane up to the tap,As . . . . . low.

1Greenland, Greenland, is a bonny, bonny place,Whare there’s neither grief nor flowr,Whare there’s neither grief nor tier to be seen,But hills and frost and snow.

Greenland, Greenland, is a bonny, bonny place,

Whare there’s neither grief nor flowr,

Whare there’s neither grief nor tier to be seen,

But hills and frost and snow.

2Up starts the kemp o the ship,Wi a psalm-book in his hand:‘Swoom away, swoom away, my merry old boys,For you’ll never see dry land.’

Up starts the kemp o the ship,

Wi a psalm-book in his hand:

‘Swoom away, swoom away, my merry old boys,

For you’ll never see dry land.’

3Up starts the gaucy cook,And a weil gaucy cook was he;‘I wad na gie aw my pans and my kettlesFor aw the lords in the sea.’

Up starts the gaucy cook,

And a weil gaucy cook was he;

‘I wad na gie aw my pans and my kettles

For aw the lords in the sea.’

4Up starts the kemp o the ship,Wi a bottle and a glass intil his hand;‘Swoom away, swoom away, my merry old sailors,For you’ll never see dry land.’

Up starts the kemp o the ship,

Wi a bottle and a glass intil his hand;

‘Swoom away, swoom away, my merry old sailors,

For you’ll never see dry land.’

5O the raging seas they row, row, row,The stormy winds do blow,As sune as he had gane up to the tap,As . . . . . low.

O the raging seas they row, row, row,

The stormy winds do blow,

As sune as he had gane up to the tap,

As . . . . . low.

62.Qy, that ever we did have?73,4.Qy, And in all, there was but poor ninety-fiveThat ever came alive on shore.?141. Whilst we in the raging seas do blow.142. And there lofty minds.

62.Qy, that ever we did have?

73,4.Qy, And in all, there was but poor ninety-fiveThat ever came alive on shore.?

73,4.

Qy, And in all, there was but poor ninety-five

That ever came alive on shore.?

141. Whilst we in the raging seas do blow.

142. And there lofty minds.

B. b.

21. Then up spoke.23,4.I have sixty gallant seamen aboard of my ship,But none half so gallant as he, as he, as he,But there’s none half so gallant as he.Burden:While the vivid lightnings flash,And the stormy winds do blow,While we poor seamen are up, up aloft,And the landsmen are all down below, below, below,And the landsmen are all down below.

21. Then up spoke.

23,4.I have sixty gallant seamen aboard of my ship,But none half so gallant as he, as he, as he,But there’s none half so gallant as he.

23,4.

I have sixty gallant seamen aboard of my ship,

But none half so gallant as he, as he, as he,

But there’s none half so gallant as he.

Burden:

While the vivid lightnings flash,And the stormy winds do blow,While we poor seamen are up, up aloft,And the landsmen are all down below, below, below,And the landsmen are all down below.

While the vivid lightnings flash,

And the stormy winds do blow,

While we poor seamen are up, up aloft,

And the landsmen are all down below, below, below,

And the landsmen are all down below.

12. And our ship not far.63. we all.64. And sank.

12. And our ship not far.

63. we all.

64. And sank.

13.Var., a fair pretty maid.InOld English Ditties,etc.(perhaps Oxenford’s changes):11. when we set.13. a fair pretty maid.24. this night.34. they will.41. Then three times round went.43. they both went down.44. As she sunk to.Burden:4. And the land-lubbers lying down below, below, below.5. And the landsmen were all down below.6. Wanting.

13.Var., a fair pretty maid.

InOld English Ditties,etc.(perhaps Oxenford’s changes):

11. when we set.

13. a fair pretty maid.

24. this night.

34. they will.

41. Then three times round went.

43. they both went down.

44. As she sunk to.

Burden:

4. And the land-lubbers lying down below, below, below.

5. And the landsmen were all down below.

6. Wanting.

D. b.

1On Friday morning as we set sail,It was not far from land,O there I espy’d a fair pretty girl,With the comb and the glass in her hand.O the stormy winds they did blow,And the raging seas did roar,While we poor sailors go up to the top,And the land-lubbers lie down below.2Then up spoke a boy of our gallant ship,And a well-spoken boy was he;‘I’ve a father and mother in fair Portsmouth town,And this night they will weep for me.’3Then up spoke a man of our gallant ship,And a well-spoken man was he;‘I have married a wife in fair London town,And this night a widow she shall be.’4Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship,And a valiant man was he;‘For want of a long-boat we shall all be drowned,’So she sunk to the bottom of the sea.5The moon shone bright, and the stars gave light,And my mother is looking for me;She might look, she might weep, with watery eyes,She might look to the bottom of the sea.

On Friday morning as we set sail,

It was not far from land,

O there I espy’d a fair pretty girl,

With the comb and the glass in her hand.

O the stormy winds they did blow,

And the raging seas did roar,

While we poor sailors go up to the top,

And the land-lubbers lie down below.

2Then up spoke a boy of our gallant ship,And a well-spoken boy was he;‘I’ve a father and mother in fair Portsmouth town,And this night they will weep for me.’

Then up spoke a boy of our gallant ship,

And a well-spoken boy was he;

‘I’ve a father and mother in fair Portsmouth town,

And this night they will weep for me.’

3Then up spoke a man of our gallant ship,And a well-spoken man was he;‘I have married a wife in fair London town,And this night a widow she shall be.’

Then up spoke a man of our gallant ship,

And a well-spoken man was he;

‘I have married a wife in fair London town,

And this night a widow she shall be.’

4Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship,And a valiant man was he;‘For want of a long-boat we shall all be drowned,’So she sunk to the bottom of the sea.

Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship,

And a valiant man was he;

‘For want of a long-boat we shall all be drowned,’

So she sunk to the bottom of the sea.

5The moon shone bright, and the stars gave light,And my mother is looking for me;She might look, she might weep, with watery eyes,She might look to the bottom of the sea.

The moon shone bright, and the stars gave light,

And my mother is looking for me;

She might look, she might weep, with watery eyes,

She might look to the bottom of the sea.

A broadside by Birt, otherwise like Such’s, adds:

Three times round went our gallant ship,And three times round went she;Three times round went our gallant ship,Then she sunk to the bottom of the sea.British Museum, 11621. k. 5 (167).

Three times round went our gallant ship,

And three times round went she;

Three times round went our gallant ship,

Then she sunk to the bottom of the sea.

British Museum, 11621. k. 5 (167).

E. b.

1O up and spak the bonnie mermaid,Wi the glass and the kaim in her hand;‘Reek about, reek about, ye mariners all,For ye’re not very far from the land.’

O up and spak the bonnie mermaid,

Wi the glass and the kaim in her hand;

‘Reek about, reek about, ye mariners all,

For ye’re not very far from the land.’

32. was she.

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