I've put "Home Comes A Sailor" lyrics on my site: http://bluegrassmessengers.com.temp.realssl.com/home-came-a-sailor--britt-tn-1953-rec.aspx



Hers' a Bahama version from 1918, any other versions from Bahama? The Lomax text?

113. A MAN OF TRAVEL- From Mary Kargel, about age 68, from Fresh Creek, Andros.

I.[1] Once upon a time dere was a man went to sea. A nort' win' sprung up, an' he have to turn back home. Another gentleman carry his horse an' tie at his gate. De owner of de house was in his bed. Dis gentleman came in an' put his glove on de table, an' his beaver on de table, an' he hang up his horse-whip. An' de husban' came out an' ax her, —

"My deah, my deah, what horse dis could be?"
"A milken' cow my moder sen' for me."
"I was a man of travellin' ten thousan' miles or mo',
A milkin' cow wi' a saddle on I never saw befo'."

"My deah, my deah, what glove dis could be?"
"A nice pocket book my moder sen' for me."
"I was a man of travellin' ten thousan' miles or mo',
A pocket-book wi' de fingers on I never saw befo'."

"My deah, my deah, what beaver dis could be?"
"A nice ban'box my moder sen' for me."
"I was a man of travellin' ten thousan' miles or mo',"
A nice ban'box wi' a high crown on I never saw befo'."

"My deah, my deah, what whip this could be?"
"A sugar-stick my moder sen' for me."
"I was a man of travellin' ten thousan' miles or mo',
A sugar-stick wi' a long tail on I never saw befo'."

"My deah, my deah, what man this could be?"
"A nice fine nurse my moder sen' for me."
"I was a man of travellin' ten thousan' miles or mo',
A nice fine nurse wi' de whiskers on I never saw befo'." [2]

1 Informant 29 (who is Mary Kargel, about age 68, from Fresh Creek, Andros). Compare North Carolina, JAFL 30: 168 (No. 61); Scotch, Herd, 2 : 172-175.

2 Unfortunately the cylinder on which I recorded this song split before it had been transcribed.


Richie