Lyr. Add: Carfindo (Ploughman Sailor)
Charles Dibdin (the elder)

I, that once was a ploughman, a sailor am now,-
No lark that aloft in the sky
Ever flutter'd his wings to give speed to the plough,
Was so gay or so careless as I.
But my friend was a carfindo aboard a king's ship,
And he ax'd me to go just to sea for a trip;
And he talk'd of such things,
As if sailors were kings,
And so teazing did keep,
That I left my poor plough to go ploughing the deep;
No longer the horn
Call'd me up in the morn;
I trusted the carfindo and the inconstant wind
That made me for to go and leave my dear behind.
2
I did not much like for to be aboard a ship;
When in danger there's no door to creep out;
I liked the jolly tars, I liked bumbo and flip,
But I did not like rocking about.
By-and-bye comes a hurricane,- I did not like that,
Next a battle, that many a sailor laid flat.
Ah! cried i, who would roam,
Thar, like me, had a home?
Where I'd sow and I'd reap,
Ere I'd left my poor plough to go ploughing the deep;
Where sweetly the horn
Call'd me up in the morn.
Ere I trusted the carfindo and the inconstant wind,
That made me for to go and leave my dear behind.
3
At last safe I landed, and in a whole skin,
Nor did I make any long stay
Ere I found, by a friend, whom I ax'd for my kin,
Father dead, and my wife run away.
Ah, who but thyself, said I, hast thou to blame?
Wives losing their husbands, oft lose their good name.
Ah, why did I roam,
When so happy at home
I could sow and could reap,
Ere I left my poor plough to go ploughing the deep?
When so sweetly the horn
Call'd me up in the morn,
Curse light upon the carfindo and the inconstant wind,
That made me for to go and leave my dear behind.
4
Why, if that be the case, said this very same friend,
And you ben't no more minded to roam,
Gis a shake by the fist, all your care's at an end,
Dad's alive and your wife safe at home.
Stark staring with joy, I leap'd out of my skin,
Buss'd my wife, mother, sister, and all of my kin.
Now, cried I, let them roam
Who want a good home;
I am well, so I'll keep,
Nor again leave the plough to go ploughing the deep;
Once more shall the horn
Call me up in the morn,
Nor shall any dammed carfindo, nor the inconstant wind,
E'er tempt me for to go and leave my dear behind.

T. EDibdin, 1875, Songs of Charles Dibdin. With a Memoir.
Addena with songs of T. Dibdin. Chas. Dibdin Jun., and Miscellaneous National Songs. George Bell and Sons.

The Bodleian Collection has several songsheets, titled "The Ploughman Sailor" or "The Ploughman Turned Sailor," which have the lyrics to this poem.

Carfindo- one of the carpenter's crew