I WAS FORCED ON BOARD TO SERVE MY KING

Early, early in the spring,
I was forced on board to serve my king
A-leaving of my dear behind
Who loved and set her heart towards mine.

As she lay smiling in my arms
I thought she had ten thousand charms
[She welcomes a man] With compliments and kisses sweet
Saying: We'll get married next time we meet.

As I went sailing over the sea
I took an opportunity
I wrote a letter to the dearest dear
But nothing from her could I hear.

I went unto her father's hall
And for my dearest love did call,
He answered me in this reply,
"My daughter is married and you must be denied."

O then I asked him what did he mean,
He answered me all in her name,
"My daughter married for a richer life,
She's left you to choose another wife."

O now I've lost my golden crown,
I'll roam the sea all around and around,
I'll seek a deck where the bullets fly,
I'll roam the sea till the day I die.

"O Willie dear, do stay on shore,
Don't roam the raging sea any more,
There is girls in the town that is fair as I,
Don't go where the waves and the bullets fly.

I'll go where the drum and the fife does play
It never ceasing night nor day,
I'd rather be on the raging sea
Than to be in a false girl's company.

O cursed is gold and silver too,
And all fair maids who won't prove true,
For with* their own dear promises break,
And marry another for riches sake.
*(and that their own...)


Ben Rice, Springfield, MO, 1937, American Memory, California Gold: Northern Cali
fornia Folk Music From the Thirties.
Found most widely in the USA and Canada. Roy Palmer (Boxing the Compass, 2001, p
p 106-7) prints a text from Logan's Pedlar's Pack of 1869, The Disappointed Sail
or, in which the ship's destination is Cartagena (1741) and adds that this in tu
rn was based on the late 17th century Seaman's Complaint for his Unkind Mistress
, of Wapping. In America, the hero has sometimes become a cowboy instead, and Th
e Trail To Mexico (Roud 152, Laws B13) seems to have been based upon this song.
Overlaps with The Sailor's Life.[MD]

"One Fine Morning Early in Spring" was posted by Snuffy, with midi, 24 Sept 00,
thread 25759: Early in Spring

Roud-152, Laws M1
filename[ EARLYSP3
TUNE FILE: EARLYSPR
CLICK TO PLAY
XX
mudcat.org

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