THE MAID ON THE SHORE



There was a young maiden, who lived all alone

Her beauty it did shine so clear-o

And all she could find for to ease her sad mind

Was to wander alone on the shore the shore

Was to wander alone on the shore



And there was a young captain, who plowed the salt seas

Let the wind blow high, blow low-o

This beautiful maiden he chanced for to spy

"Don't I wish that I had her on board on board

Don't I wish that I had her on board."



The steward he ran and he lowered the boat

And quickly he rode it to shore o

And these were the very first words he did say:

"Fair maid, won't you venture on board on board?

Fair maid, won't you venture on board?"

By coaxing, persuading, she entered the boat

And quickly he rowed her on board o

Our captain, he smiled and spat out his chew

Saying "Fair you well sorrow and care and care."

Saying "Fair you well sorrow and care."



The captain he poured out the richery wine

That sparked so bright and so clear-o

Saying "First you will lie in my arms all this night,

And then I'll hand you to my crew my crew,

And then I'll hand you to my crew."



"Oh thank you, oh thank you," this maiden replied

"That's just what I've been waiting for-o.

For I've grown so weary of my maidenhead

As I wandered alone on the shore the shore

As I wandered alone on the shore."



She sat herself down in the stern of the ship

Her voice was so fair and so clear-o

She sang them so sweet, so neat and complete

She sang captain and sailors to sleep to sleep

She sang captain and sailors to sleep



She robbed them of silver, she robbed them of gold

She robbed them of costly wares-o

Our captain's broad sword, she used for an oar

To row herself back to the shore the shore

For to row herself back to the shore



"Oh were me men crazy, or were they all drunk?

Oh were they sunk deep in despair-o?

To see her get away with her beauty so gay

Don't I wish that I had her once more once more

Don't I wish that I had her once more?"



And yonder she stands all alone on the strand

A-waving her handkerchief, fair o

Saying: "You are the captain that sails the salt seas

And I'm still a maid on the shore the shore,

And I am the maid on the shore."



Child #43

Recorded by John Roberts and Tony Barrand on Dark Ships in the

Forest, FSI-65. also by Frankie Armstrong on Lovely

@magic @feminist

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