Hi,

Jim Brown, I haven't received an email from you. Can you also compare the broadside, "Polly's Love"? I know there are only a few stanzas that correspond.

Nearly all the British traditional versions are based wholly on the c. 1825 broadside "Polly's Love" which mean the "Gosport Tragedy" version was only collected by Christie- who provides no text only reprints Buchan).

This is the only fragment that supports an earlier version. It's taken from Musical Traditions liner notes and shows that it became mixed with "Polly's Love":

The Cruel Ship's Carpenter - fragment sung by George Dunn of Quarry Bank, Staffordshire. (Recorded 3 Dec 1971, by Roy Palmer)

Two brace of kisses I had late last night
To rise up in the morning before it was light
... ... ... ...
... ... ... ...

(missing verses)

"Oh pardon, oh pardon, oh pardon", said she
... ... ... ...
"I'll travel the wide world to set myself free
If you will but pardon my baby and me."

"There's no time for pardon, there's no time to weep
For all the night long I've been digging your grave
Your grave it lies open and the spade is standing by"
Which caused this young damsel to weep and to cry.

Then out of his pocket he pulled out a knife
He plunged it into her heart
And the crimson blood did flow
And into the grave the dead body did go.

(missing verses)

Then up spake the first man, "I'm sure it's not me"
Then up spoke the second man, "I'm sure it's not me"
Then up steps bold William to stamp and to swear
"I'm sure it's not me, sir, I vow and declare."

Between this date, when he first sang it to me, and June 1971 George gradually retrieved more lines from his memory, without recovering the full text. Though he remembered that the final scene took place at sea he did not recall the avenging, ghostly appearance of the wronged woman,

As he did turn from the captain with speed
He met his Polly, which made his heart bleed
She stript him and tore him, she tore him in three
Because that he murdered her baby and she.

Richie