Cruel Father - (London) c.1820 J. Pitts broadside
[Bodleian Broadsides online. With minor changes, same as "Maiden's Complaint."
R. Matteson 2016]
"Cruel Father or the Maiden's Complaint" - Pitts, Printer, and Toy Watehouse [sic] 6, Great st Andrew street, 7 Dials
Awake, awake, you drowsy sleeper,
Awake, awake, 'tis break of day,
Can you sleep my love any longer,
Since my poor heart you've sto'e away.
Ah! who is that under my window,
Ah! who comes there to disturb my rest?
'Tis thy lover the young man did answer
Long thus I have waited for your sake.
Jemmy, says she, should my father hear you,
We shall be ruined I fear;
He'll send a cruel press gang for you,
And separate you and me, my dear.
Her father chanced to overhear them,
And for a press gang sent straightway;
Against this young man gave information,
And sent him sailing on the sea.
So now my dear daughter I have deprived you
Of your love whom I have sent to sea;
And now you may send him a letter,
With your misfortunes acquainted to be.
Oh cruel father pay down my fortune
Five hundred pounds is due you know;
And I will cross the briny ocean,
To find my true love I will go.
Jemmy is the man that I do admire,
He is the man that I do adore;,
And if I can't have my heart's desire
Single I will go for evermore.