The Rolling Sailor

Don't you see the ships a-coming? Don't you see them in full sail?
Don't you see the ships a-coming With the prizes at their tail?
Oh, my little Rolling sailor, oh, my little Rolling he;
I do love a jolly sailor, blithe and merry might he be.

Sailors they get all the money, soldiers they get none but brass;
I do love a jolly sailor, soldiers they may kiss my arse.
Oh, my little Rolling sailor, oh, my little Rolling he;
I do love a jolly sailor, soldiers may be damned for me.

How can I be blithe and merry, and my true love so far from me,
When so many pretty sailors are pressed and taken to the sea?
Oh, my little Rolling sailor, Oh, my little Rolling he;
I do love a jolly sailor blithe and merry may he be.

Oh, I wish the press were over and all the wars were at an end;
then everybody sailor Laddie would be merry with his friend.
Oh, my little Rolling sailor, Oh, my little Rolling he;
I do love a jolly sailor blithe and merry may he be.

When the wars they are all over and peace and plenty come again
then everybody sailor Laddie will come sailing o'er the main
Oh, my little Rolling sailor, Oh, my little Rolling he;
I do love a jolly sailor blithe and merry may he be.

I hope the wars will soon be over and all our sailors once come home,
then every lass would get her lad and every wife her son again.
Oh, my little Rolling sailor, Oh, my little Rolling he;
I do love a jolly sailor blithe and merry may he be.


First 2 verses collected by James Gardner in Gosport in 1781 the rest come from 'The Sailor Laddie' a garland text.

Hope this is the one you wanted
Mary