SHORT JACKET (Cabin Boy)



Oh once I had a sweetheart

Young Jimmy was his name,

And it's for the sake of Jimmy

That I crossed o'er the main.

And if I never do find him

I will mourn constantlie

All for the sake of Jimmy

A maid I will live and die.



Short jacket and sailor's breeches

This fair one she put on,

And like a brave young sailor

She boldly marched along.

She bargained with a sea captain

Her passage to be free,

And she would be his true companion

While crossing the raging sea.

One night as they were talking

A-going to their bed.

The captain to her bravely said

"I wish you was a maid.

For your cherry cheeks and ruby lips

Have so enchanted me,

That I do wish with all my heart

That you was a maid for me."



"O hold your tongue, now, Captain

Such talk is all in vain,

And if the sailors hear you

They will laugh and make you game.

But wait until we reach the shore

And two pretty maids we will find.

For you and me to sport and play

And with them drink our wine."



It happened a few days after

The gallant ship did land,

And as she stepped off on the dock

She waved her lily-white hand;

Saying," Once I was a sailor on your ship

But a maid I am on shore,

Adieu, adieu now, Captain

Adieu for evermore."



"If you'll come back, my pretty maid

And if you will marry me,

I have a large fortune

That I'll assign to thee.

Ten thousand guineas in bright gold

That I will assign to thee

If you will come back, my pretty maid

And say you will marry me."



"No, for once I had a sweetheart

Young Jimmy was his name,

And it's for the sake of Jimmy

That I crossed o'er the main.

And if I never do find him

I will mourn constantlie

All for the sake of Jimmy

A maid I will live and die."



From Traditional American Folk Songs, Warner and Warner

Collected from John Galusha, 1941

Note: A shorter version (slight variant of verses 2,3,4,5) was

recorded by Killen, 40 North to 40 North; this version (tune

SHRTJKT2) retains the baffled captain theme, but almost loses

her motivation, reducing it to the last line of the first verse RG

@sailor @transvestite

filename[ SHORTJKT

play.exe SHORTJKT

RG

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