This s a version of the song collected in Hampshire, England and that is on my new CD - George Blake's Legacy - Forest Tracks Records.

Tim Radford
.......................................

I AM A SAILOR

I am a sailor, of whom I write and in the seas took great delight,
Two female sex I did beguile till at length by me they proved with child.

I promised I'd be true to both and bound them safe all with an oath
Saying I'd marry if I had but life, and one of them I made my wife.

The other she was left alone, she said 'You false deluded man,
By me you've done a wicked thing,
You have brought me to some public shame.'

Some public shame for to prevent into a silent wood she went
And soon she ended up the strife: she cut the tender thread of life.

She hung herself up to a tree, two men a-hunting did her see
Her flesh by birds was beastly tore,
Which grieved those young men's hearts full sore.

They took a knife and cut her down and in her bosom a note was found
This note was written out in large, 'Bury me not I do you charge.'

'But here on earth then let me lie that everyone that do pass by
They may by me a warning take and shun their folly before it's too late.'

'Since he is false, then I'll be just, for here on earth he shall have no rest.'
When she said this it plagued him so and to the seas he was forced to go.

As he stood on the main-mast high a little boat he chanced to spy
He was thinking on that wicked deed which almost made his heart to bleed.

Then down on deck this young man goes and to the captain his mind disclosed
'Captain' he said, 'stand in my defense or some evil spirit will fetch me hence.'

(The next verse is not from Blake)
The spirit all on the deck did stand enquiring for this wicked young man
'That young man he died long ago he died for the loss and the love of you.'

'Twas in Kilkenny this young man died, tis in Kilkenny his body lies
'Captain,' she said, 'now don't say so say so, for he is standing in your ship below.'

'And if you stand in his defense a mighty storm I will send hence
Will cause you and your seamen to weep I'll have you all sleeping in the deep.'

Then down from the deck our captain goes,
Brought up this young man to face his foes
She fixed her eyes on him so grim, which made him tremble on every limb.

'It was well known when I was a maid twas first by thee I was betrayed
I am a spirit sent for thou you deceived me once but I'll have thee now.'

Now to protect both ship and men into the boat they forced him then
Which did our seamen much to admire
The boat sank down in a flame of fire.

Come all young men that to love belong since you have heard my mournful song
Whatever you do be true to one don't you delude poor woman wrong.


Gardiner mss. no. 315 from notebook no. 6 page 79 collected on 18th June 1906 in Southampton. It appears in Roud as no. 568 and in Laws as P34A.
There is also a version in Purslow's Wanton Seed on page 101 called 'The Sailor's Tragedy' with a text, augmented with Blake's, and tune from S. Gregory of Beaminster, Dorset collected by the Hammonds. That is where my verse 11 originates.
Gardiner says of this song in his notes:
'Here's an excellent plot for a tragedy or tragic opera?'
In some collections it is also called 'The Dreadful Ghost'. The Hammonds collected three versions in Dorset, but this is the only version Gardiner collected in Hampshire. However the song seems also to have been very popular in Nova Scotia, Canada and Scotland, as several versions exist in the Fowke, Creighton and Greig-Duncan collections.

Versions of this song have also been recorded recently in North America, particularly by Tony Barrand and John Roberts, and also Debra Cowan.
Blake's tune is, according to Purslow, clearly related to 'The Croppy Boy', and the song is rare from the tradition (not withstanding the facts above) and that it is presumably of 17th century origin, although the collected texts seem to stem from 18th century broadsides.