Lyr Req: Ernest Stoneman's Mermaid #289

Subject: Lyr Add: THE RAGING SEA HOW IT ROARS
From: Roberto
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 04:57 PM

VIRGINIA TRADITIONS - Ballads from British Tradition
The Ragging Sea, How it Roars (The Mermaid) - Child #289
Ernest V. Stoneman, 1928

Please, help me with this transcription. Thanks. R

It's nine times around - said the captain of the ship
It's nine times around - said he
Oh, it's nine times around, Lord, we're sinking in the deep
While the landlords, lie dreaming down below

Chorus - Oh, the ragging sea, how it roars
And the cold chilly winds how they blow
While ...(?) poor sailors are sinking in the deep
And the landlords, lie dreaming down below

Oh, first on deck was the captain of the ship
A fine looking fellow was he
Says – I have a wife in old Mexico
And tonight (?) she is looking for me

Oh, next on deck was the lady of the ship
A fine looking lady was she
Says – I have husband in New Mexico
And tonight (?) he's looking for me

Oh, next on deck was the ....(?) litte cook
A ... little cook was he
He cares no more for his wife and his child
Then he does for the fish in the sea

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ernest Stoneman's Mermaid #289
From: Stewie
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 07:35 PM

Hi Roberto,

Stanza 1, line 3. 'Lord' is either 'are' or 'and', but sounds like 'are to me: '... around are we sinking in the deep'.

Stanza 1, line 4, 'While the landlord lies dreaming down below'

Chorus, line 1, 'raging'. 'Ragging' must be a typo on the album back sheet. It is spelt correctly in the notes and neither Meade nor Russell discographies give any indication that the original recording was issued with that misspelling.

Chorus, line 3, 'While tonight us poor sailors are sinking in the deep'

'Tonight' is correct in the last lines of the next two stanzas.

The missing word in the last stanza is 'sassy'.

Regards, Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ernest Stoneman's Mermaid #289
From: Roberto
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 01:39 AM

Thanks a lot, Stewie. R