Two songs about women on board sailing ships - with contrasting fortunes;

CANADEE-I-O - as sung by Nic Jones

It's of a fair and handsome girl, she's all in her tender years
She fell in love with a sailor boy and it's true that she loved him well
For to go off to sea with him, like she did not know how
She longed to see that seaport town, called Canadee-i-o.

So she bargained with a young sailor boy, it's all for a piece of gold
Straightway then he led her all down into the hold
Saying, I'll dress you up in sailor's clothes, your jacket shall be blue
You'll see that seaport town, called Canadee-i-o.

Now, when the other sailors heard the news, they fell into a rage
And with all the whole ship's company, they were willing to engage
Saying, We'll tie her hands and feet me boys, overboard we'll throw her
And she'll never see that seaport town, called Canadee-i-o.

Now, when the captain he's heard the news, well he too fell into a rage
And with his whole ship's company, he was willing to engage
Saying, She'll stay all in sailor's clothes, her collar shall be blue
She'll see that seaport town, called Canadee-i-0.

Now when they came down to Canada, scarcely above half a year
She's married this bold captain, who called her his dear
She's dressed in silks and satins now, and she cuts a gallant show
She's the finest of the ladies down in Canadee-i-o.

Come all you fair and tender girls, wheresoever you may be
I'd have you follow your own true love when he goes out on the sea
For if the sailors prove false to you, well the captain he might prove true
To see the honour that I have gained by the wearing of the blue.

THE BANKS OF GREEN WILLOW - as sung by Brian Peters

Oh it's of a sea captain lived by the sea-side
And he's courted of a lady till she's proved by child
"Go and fetch some of your father's gold and some of your mother's money
To sail across the ocean along with young Johnny."

Now they hadn't been a-sailing six days, no, not many
Before she needed woman's help but could not get any
And they hadn't been a-sailing a mile, or not many
Before she was delivered of a beautiful baby

Now they hadn't sailed on for today and tomorrow
She was wringing of her hands, she was crying with sorrow
But, oh, says the captain, "My ship will not sail for me
Though the sails are outspread she lies still on the salt sea."

"O Captain, O Captain, here's fifty gold pounds
To take me back safe again, to turn the ship round
"Oh no," says the captain, "Such a thing it never can be
For 'tis better to lose two lives than it is to lose many."

"Then bring me a silk napkin and bind my head easy
And throw me right overboard, both me and my baby."
So he's brought a silk napkin and bound it so softly
And he's thrown her right overboard both her and her baby

"Oh, fetch me the lifeboat and row her back to me
Oh, bring my love back again, both she and her baby
Ah, but see, boys, how she do tumble and see how she do taver
I'm afraid that she is drowning, which makes my heart quaver

"Well, I will write me a letter, tell her friends that my love is drowned
And she shall have a coffin if she ever is found
And her coffin shall be made of the gold shining yellow
And she will be buried on the banks of green willow."

And her coffin shall be made of the gold shining yellow
And she will be buried on the banks of green willow