The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #76196 Message #1347367
Posted By: Joe Offer
04-Dec-04 - 02:46 PM
Thread Name: DTStudy:Capt Calls All Hands/Bold Privateer
Subject: RE: DTStudy:Capt Calls All Hands/Bold Privateer
Here's a broadside version posted by Pavane in another thread.
Thread #31423 Message #851058 Posted By: pavane 20-Dec-02 - 08:07 AM Thread Name: Help: Fighting for Strangers Subject: Lyr Add: THE DISTRESSED MAID
For comparison, here is one of the texts from the Bodley collection It was selected only because it is more legible than some of the others. There are places where this one is awkward to scan, and others may be better.
It seems clear that the first verse is by the man and the second and third by the girl.
THE DISTRESSED MAID Ref Firth c.12(120)
Our captain calls all hands away tomorrow To leave my dearest girl in grief and sorrow Dry up those tears and leave off weeping How happy shall we be at our next meeting
How can you go abroad fighting for a stranger You had better stay at home free from all danger I will roll you in my arms, my dearest jewel So stay at home with me and do not be cruel
When I had gold and silver, you did invite me But now I am low and poor, you seem to slight me There is no believeing man, no, not your own brother So maids, if you must love, love one another
Down on the ground she fell, like one a dying Wringing her hands abroad, sighing and crying He courted me a while, just to deceive me Now my poor heart he's got he's going to leave me
Farewel(l) my dearest dear father and mother Don't grieve for your dear child you have no other Don't grieve for me, pray, for I am going To everlasting joys, where fountains are flowing
There are 4 versions in the Bodley collection under the name 'The Distressed Maid', all of which have all 5 verses and are similar to the version above.
That seems to be a common problem, that the name by which as song is know nowadays bears no resemblence to its former name, so searching for broadside is a matter of luck. Just as an example of what I said above, one of the copies of The Distressed Maid also contains a song called 'Cold winter is past'
You may recognise it if I quote some of the words:
Straightway I will repair to the Borough (!) of Kildare