here's a version from Maine which appears in our new book "Bygone Ballads of Maine- Volume 1- Songs of Ships & Sailors" now available from Loomis House Press. The tune is completely different than the others. The Sailor Song (aka The Basket of eggs/ Bung Yer Eye/Yump in your eye) Sung by Mrs.Sadie Murphy Harvey of Monticello Maine September 30, 1941 Marguerite Olney Collector; Helen Hartness Flanders Collection In Chamberlain Street two sailors were walking Their pockets being lined with gold As these two sailors together were talking A pretty fair damsel they did behold One of the sailors spied a basket As she sat down to take her ease And offering to carry it one of them ask-ed her Her kind answer was "Yes, if you please" One of the sailors picked up the basket "It's full of eggs I pray you take care And if by chance you should overwalk me At the halfway house, pray leave them there" The halfway house was soon walked to The halfway house was soon passed by But still this fair maiden she stepp-ed on lightly And on the sailors cast her eye These two sailors called into an ale house They called for beer and a glass of wine Saying "Oh what foes women are in this country- A woman has left her eggs behind" "Pray tell the landlord to bring on some bacon For we have eggs all for to broil (boil?)." But when this young sailor he opened the basket Instead of the eggs he found a young child One of the sailors set down to fretting "To fret," said the other "It is all in vain Here's fifty bright guineas I'll give to the maiden If any women it will obtain A woman standing by the fire To hear what the sailors would have to say Said, "I'll take the baby as soon as its mother If down the money you will pay" He paid her over and down the money "You see, kind sir, I hope I'm free But to tell you the truth without further conclusion The daddy of the child you be." "If this be you, my lovely Nancy, That I danced with last Easter Day--" "Oh yes, then, kind sir, and since you've had your fancy, Oh now the fiddler you have paid."
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