PATRICK SPENCER
(Bob Coltman)
Don't the moon look pretty? She sails like a ship in the sky
Darling, you don't know nothing 'bout sailing; she's got a cast in her eye
For when the moon weeps silvery tears, you can look for a terrible storm
God pity the sailor who's out tomorrow; I'm glad I can bide at home
Well, if you be Patrick Spencer, which man you better had be
I've a letter from the king commands you to go to sea
It's little he cares for the danger as he drinks his wine with song
His daughter in far Norway is sick and she wants to come home
Well, he might have sent me greetings; he might have cast me in chains
He might have asked a hundred favors, I'm sure I'd never complain
But this running up of the rigging with a hurricane on the wing
Well, it's come to a matter of life or death, to hie to pleasure the king
Standing out to sea, good Lord, it began to rain
The waves like mighty mountains and the wind like a thing in pain
Patrick Spencer took his glass and he's placed it in Johnny's hand
Says, Run up, Johnny, high as you can, and see if you see any land
No land, Patrick Spencer, nor ever a sign of shore
Give it over, boys, he cried, you'll never see home any more
Forget about your buckled shoes; you'll wet more than your feet
And as for the letter from the king, it's a damn small winding sheet
Christine will be a long, long time a-waiting for me to come home
And the cruel cold sea be a long, dark time a-walking over my bones
That man that told the king of me, I'd like to have him here
And the very last wish that I'd like to have is to take him under with me
Don't the moon look pretty? She sails like a ship in the sky
Darling, you don't know nothing 'bout sailing; she's got a cast in her eye
For when the moon weeps silvery tears, you can look for a terrible storm
God pity the sailor who's out tomorrow; I'm glad I can bide at home
Child #58
@Scottish @sailor
Recorded by Coltman on Son of Child
filename[ PATSPENS2
JN
mudcat.org
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