Harry Cox sings The Young Sailor Cut Down in His Prime

THE YOUNG SAILOR CUT DOWN IN HIS PRIME

As I was a-walking down by the Royal Albert,
Black was the night and cold was the day;
Who should I see there but one of my shipmates,
Wrapped in a blanket, far colder than clay.

He asked for a blanket to wrap 'round his head,
Likewise a candle to light him to bed;
His poor heart was breakin', his poor head was achin',
For he's a young sailor cut down in his prime.

We'll beat the big drums and we'll play the pipes merrily,
Play the dead march as we carry him along,
Take him to the churchyard and fire three volleys o'er him
For he's a young sailor cut down in his prime.

At the corner of the street you will see two girls standing,
One to the other did whisper and say:
"Here comes a young sailor whose money we've squandered,
Here comes a young sailor cut down in his prime."

His kind-hearted mother, his kind-hearted father,
Both of them wondered about his past life;
For along with the flash girls he would wander,
Along with the flash girls it was his delight.

From Folkways FS 3805 "The Unfortunate Rake - A Study in the Evolution of a Ballad". Notes and lyrics can be downloaded from Smithsonian Folkways. The same recording is on Folkways FW 8871 "Field Trip - England", edited by Jean Ritchie.