The Sea Captain- Jepson (UT) 1947 Hubbard
[Ballads and Song from Utah, Hubbard; 1961. His notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
The relationship of this song to "The Broomfield Hill" is pointed out by Mackenzie, 74-75. See also Greenleaf and Mansfield, pp. 63-64. Two almost identical texts have been found in Utah.
THE SEA CAPTAIN- Sung by James Jepson of Hurricane, Aug. 11, 1947.
There was a fair damsel all cros-sed in love,
And felt very deep in despair O.
Ali the way she could find to ease her sad mind
S/as to walk all alone on the shore,
O shore, was to walk all alone on the shore.
There was a sea captain who sailed the seas round
And fell very deep into love O.
"I shall die, I shall die," the sea captain did cry,
"If I don't get that maid on the shore,
O shore, if I don't get that maid on the shore.
"Your captain has jewels, your captain has gold,
Your captain has costly array O.
All these he will give to his jolly seamen
If you'll bring him that maid on the shore,
O shore, if you'll bring him that maid on the shore.
Our captain has jewels, our captain has gold,
Our captain has costly array O.
All these he will give, and we'll please him if we can,
And we'll bring him that maid on the shore,
O, shore, and we'll bring him that maid on the shore."
After much persuasion on board she did go.
Our captain he set her a chair O.
He invited her down to his cabin below,
Singing, "Fare you well sorrow and care,
O care" singing, "Fare you well sorrow and care."
"I will sing you a song if you all think it best,
And how she made them all stare O.
She sang it so sweet, so neat and complete
That she sang the seamen all asleep"
O sleep, that she sang the seamen ail asleep.
She robbed them of jewels, she robbed them of gold,
She robbed them of costly array O.
Of the captain's broad sword she made her an oar,
And she paddled her boat to the shore,
O shore, and she paddled her boat to the shore.
O were my men sleeping, or were my men mad,
Or were they all sank in despair O?
She deluded yourself, myself also,
And again she's a maid on the shore,
O shore, and again she's a maid on the shore."
"You're men were not sleeping, your men were not mad.
Nor were they sank in despair O.
I deluded your men and yourself also,
And again I'm a maid on the shore,
O shore, and again I'm a maid on the shore."