Cruel Ship's Carpenter- Pearl Nye (OH) 1937 Lomax
[My quick transcription. From: Captain Pearl R. Nye: Life on the Ohio and Erie Canal; LOC online. This rare traditional version of Gosport is similar to the Deming/Songster version.
R. Matteson 2016]
The Cruel Ship's Carpenter --Sung by Captain Pearl R. Nye (1872-1950) on November 3, 1937. Recorded Lomax.
IN London's fair city a fair damsel did dwell,
Her wealth and her beauty no tongue could thy tell;
She was courted by a sailor for to be his dear,
And him to his trade was a ship carpenter.
He says, "My Miss Mary, if you will agree,
And give your consent to go along me,
Your love it can cure me of sorrow and fear,
If you will but marry a ship carpenter."
Through 'braces and kisses they parted that night,
She started next morning for to meet him by light;
He led her through ditches and valleys so deep,
Till at length this fair damsel began for to weep.
She says, "My Sweet William you've led me astray
On purpose my innocent life to betray,
He says, "My Miss Mary you have guessed it right
for I was digging your grave all last night."
She turned her head and, her grave there she spied,
Saying, "Is this the bright bed for me you provide,
O pardon [me] Sweet William and spare me my life
Let me be distress-ed if I can't be your wife."
For pardon Sweet William is the worst of all men
Heaven will reward you, when I'm dead and gone;
No time for to weep no nor time for to stand,
He instantly taking his knife in his hand.
Into her fair body, his knife then did go,
And the blood from her body like a fountain did flow,
He covered her all up and homeward returned
Left no one to mourn but the small birds alone.
The captain soon summoned the whole of his crew,
He said, "My brave boys, I fear some of you
Have murdered some damsel before we came 'way,
That will cause us to hate upon the whole sea.
And he that did do it, the truth he'll deny,
We'll hang him on yon gallows oh so high
But he who confesses, then his life we'll not take,
But to leave him on the next island we make.
Poor William, poor William then fell to his knees
The blood in his veins with sorrow did freeze
And no one did see it, but his wicked eye,
And he went distracted and died the same night.