Here’s a longer version than the one attributed to Ian Robb and posted by Moira Cameron above. These lyrics were found in Jenny Lind Songster (Newcastle: John Gilbert, no date, circa 1850), page 16. The Bodleian Library has about 11 editions.


FEMALE RAMBLING SAILOR.

Come all you people far and near,
And listen to my ditty.
At Gravesend lived a maiden fair,
Who was both young and pretty.
Her love he was pressed away,
And drowned in a foreign sea,
Which caus’d this maid for to say,
I'll be a female sailor.

This maiden she was resolved to go
Across the foaming ocean.
She was resolved to let them know
How she can gain promotion.
With jacket blue and trousers white
Just like a sailor neat and tight,
The sea it was the heart‘s delight
Of the rambling female sailor.

Like a sailor true she went on board,
All for to do her duty.
She was always ready with a call,
This maid the queen of beauty.
When in a calm, this damsel young
Would charm the sailors with her tongue,
As she walked the deck and sweetly sung,
The female rambling sailor.

When in the storm upon the sea,
She was ready at her station.
Her mind as calm as calm could be,
She loved her occupation.
From stem to stern she‘d boldly go.
She braved all dangers, feared no foe,
But soon you'll hear the overthrow
Of the rambling female sailor.

This maiden gay did a wager lay
She would go aloft with any,
And up aloft she straight did go,
Where times she had been many.
This maiden bold, oh! sad to tell,
She missed her hold, and down she fell,
And calmly bid this world farewell,
Did the female sailor bold.

This maiden gay did fade away,
Just like a drooping willow,
Which made the sailors sigh and say,
Farewell, young faithful Willy.
When her snow-white breasts in sight came,
She proved to be a female frame,
And Rebecca Young it was the name,
Of the rambling female sailor.

May willows wave around her grave,
And round it laurels planted;
May roses sweet grow at the feet
Of one who was undaunted.
May a marble stone be inscribed upon,
Near here lies one so lately gone,
A maiden fair as the sun shone on—
The rambling female sailor.

So all young men and maidens around,
Come listen to my story.
Her body is anchored to the ground;
Let's hope her soul‘s in glory.
On the' river Thames she was known well—
Few sailors could with her excell—
The tear let fall as the fate you tell
Of the rambling female sailor.