Help finding title of a ghost song?

Subject: Help finding title of a ghost song?
From: GUEST,incognita
Date: 01 May 08 - 10:00 PM

I am looking for the title of a revenge/ghost song. I know the plot, but cannot remember any of the lyrics. The song opens with the death of a young woman who has hanged herself because her lover was untrue. Her ghost later appears, and tracks the man down on a ship. The lady's ghost comes to the captain and tells him either to produce the man, or she will sink the entire ship. The captain complies, the false lover is dragged down to his doom,and the lady gets her revenge. I belive the song ends with a warning to young men to stay true.

Subject: Lyr Add: I AM A SAILOR
From: RTim
Date: 01 May 08 - 10:10 PM

Below is a version of the song as collected by Dr. George Gardiner from the Hampshire singer George Blake. I am about to record it on a new CD.
Tim Radford

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I AM A SAILOR

I am a sailor, of whom I write and in the seas took great delight,
Two female sex he 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 mainmast 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 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 & 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 & 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, and there is also a version in Purslow’s Wanton Seed on page 101 called ‘The Sailors’ Tragedy’ with a text, augmented with Blake’s, and tune from S. Gregory of Beaminster, Dorset collected by the Hammonds.
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 sometimes called ‘The Dreadful Ghost’
The Hammonds collected three versions in Dorset, but this is the only Hampshire version.
However the song seems also to have been popular in Nova Scotia, Canada and Scotland, as several versions exist in the Fowke, Creighton and Greig-Duncan collections, and it has been recorded several times 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 (notwithstanding the facts above) and that it is presumably of 17th century origin, although the collected texts seem to stem from 18th century broadsides.

Subject: RE: Help finding title of a ghost song?
From: GUEST,incognita
Date: 01 May 08 - 10:14 PM

Thank you.