Sailor Boy- Annie Taylor (Aber) c1910 REC
[My date. From School of Scottish Studies; Original Tape ID - SA1953.243
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/play/41680;jsessionid=274AAED2EDC5FD02A7FF10D37E6B0C87
R. Matteson 2017]
Sailor Boy- sung by Annie Taylor of Strathdon, Aberdeenshire in October, 1953. Learned from her mother when she was ten years old.
A sailor's life is a weary life,
It's robbed me of my heart's delight,
For I left here for to weep and mourn,
Oh thinking that my love'll n'er return.
Oh father, father build me a boat,
And on the ocean I may float.
And ev'ry ship that I pass by,
I will inquire for my Billie boy.
She had not gone far beyond the deep,
When men on war ships she chanced to meet,
Oh captain, captain can you truly tell,
Is my love Billie among his men?
What is the of colour of your Billie's hair?
What kind of coat does your Billie wear?
His hair is yellow and his heart is true,
He wears a coat of the navy blue.
I doubt, I doubt, he is not here,
I doubt he drownded in yonder pier,
In yonder pier where the wind blows high,
'Twas there we lost a fine sailor boy.
Come all you sailors go dress in black
Come all you sailors go and mind the mast,
From your main sails[1] to your top mast high
Come mourn with me for my sailor boy.
1. hard to understand