Hi,

There's a traditional version of "Sailing Trade" in Songs the Whalemen Sang by Gale Huntington dated 1847. The "colour of amber" stanza is a bit different:

That short blue jacket he used to wear
His rosy cheeks and his coal black hair
His lips as smooth as the velvet fine
Ten thousand times he has kissed mine.


A SAILOR'S TRADE IS A ROVING LIFE -From the log aboard the whaling ship, Elizabeth, port was New Bedford, Massachusetts 1847, Kendall repository.

A sailor's trade is a roving life
It's robbed me of my heart's delight
He has gone and left me awhile to mourn
But I can wait till he does return.

That short blue jacket he used to wear
His rosy cheeks and his coal black hair
His lips as smooth as the velvet fine
Ten thousand times he has kissed mine.

Come father build me a little boat,
That o'er the ocean I may float;
And every ship that I do pass by,
I will enquire for my sailor boy.

She had not sailed far o'er the deep[1]
Before a king's ship she chanced to meet,
Captain captain, send me word
Does my sweet William be on board?

Oh no fair lady William is not here
He's drowned or so I fear
On yon green island as we pass
Gives the last mark of your sailor boy.

She wrung her hands and tore her hair
Like some female in deep despair
And then her boat to the shore did run
Saying how can I live since my sailor's gone.

Come all ye women that dress in white
Come all ye men that take delight
Come haul your colors at half mast high
And help me to weep for my sailor boy.

I will sit down and write a song
I will write it both sweet and long
At every line I will drop a tear
At every verse: where is my dear.

Come dig me a grave both wide and deep
Place a marble stone at my head and feet
And on my breast a turtle dove
To let the world[2] know that I died for love.
__________________
Footnote:

1. water was spilled on the log and the next two stanzas read:


She had not sailed far o'er
Before a king's ship
Captain captain,
Does my sweet

Oh no fair
He's
On
Gives

2. MS missing "To let the world"

* * * *

Richie