I'M BOUND AWAY
(Capstan Shanty)

For the sake of you, my lassie,
I'm bound away, my lassie,
For the sake of you, my lassie,
I'm bound away.

Far across the sea, my lassie,
I'm bound away, my lassie,
Far across the sea, my lassie,
I'm bound away.

Gold to win for you, my lassie,
I'm bound away, my lassie,
Gold to win for you, my lassie,
I'm bound away.

Notes by CFS:

This rather pretty little anchor song, which I think does not appear in any other collection, dates back to the early fifties, when it was a favourite in ships outward bound from the London River. "It used," said my informant, "to sound peculiarly pathetic when one knew the circumstances- the men who were singing it had probably wasted a year's hard-earned pay in a few days ashore, and were leaving home perhaps for years, penniless and full of the feelings of depression and despair left behind when the drink was just out of them.

The words seem to indicate that it may have been originally an emigrant song. The first verse only is traditional: the friend from whom I had it could remember no more. I have taken the liberty of acting as shantyman for once and improvising a couple more to make more of a song of it.