Sailing Trade (Edinburgh) 1800 J. Morren, chapbook
[Ba. "Sailing Trade." ("The sailing trade is a weary trade,") from the chapbook, "Four Excellent New Songs," Edinburgh. Printed by J. Morren, c. 1800; 10 stanzas. Minor editing for obvious errors.
Stanzas 2-5 are floaters found similarly in other songs. Stanza 2 is related to Died for Love, Stanza 3 is found in Unfortunate Swain, Stanza 4 is a floater; stanza five is the first extant printing of "Colour of Amber" stanza found similarly in two "Colour of Amber" songs and the Appalachian folk song "Black is the Colour."
The Sailing Trade has one of the fundamental opening lines which has been changed and appears "A sailor's life is a weary life" or similarly.
R. Matteson 2017]
The Sailing Trade.
1. THE sailing trade is a weary trade;
It's robb'd me of my heart's delight,
And left me here in tears to mourn,
Still waiting for my love's return.
2. Like one distracted this fair maid ran,
For pen and paper to write a song:
And at every line she dropt a tear,
Crying, Alas! for my Billy dear.
3. Thousands, thousands all in a room.
My love he carries the brightest bloom;
He surely is some chosen one,
I will have him, or I'll have none.
4. The grass does grow on every lea,
The leaf doth fall from every tree;
How happy that small bird doth cry,
That has her true love by her lie.
5. The colour of amber is my true love's hair
His red rosy cheeks doth my heart ensnare
His ruby lips are soft, and with charms.
I've lain many a night in his lovely arms.
6. Father, father, build me a boat,
That on the ocean I may float;
And at every ship that doth pass by,
I may enquire for my sailor boy.
7. She had not sail'd long on the deep,
Till a man of war she chanc'd to meet,
O sailor, send send me word.
If my true love Will be on board.
8. Your true love William is not here,
For he is kill’d and so I fear;
For the other day as we pass’d by,
We seed him list in the Victory,
9. At the first ship that she did meet,
She did enquire for her Willie sweet;
They told her that just the other day,
They had lost a brave young sailor boy.
10. She wrung her hands and tore her hair,
Crying alas! my dearest dear,
And over board her body threw,
Bidding all worldly things adieu!