Sailor Boy- Fanny Coffey (VA) 1918 Sharp G
[My title. Single stanza with music from EFSSA, 1932 Sharp G. The additional stanzas are given from Sharp's MS.
R. Matteson 2017]
No. 106 Sweet William, Sharp G.
G. [Sailor Boy] Sung by Mrs. FANNY COFFEY at White Rock, Va., May 8, 1918
Hexatonic (no 4th).
O father, father, go build me a boat
That on the ocean I may float,
And ev'ry vessel that pass by,
O there I'll enquire for my sweet sailor boy[1].
She rowed and she rowed all over the main,
She spied a vessel come from Spain.
And as the captain he drew near,
O there she enquired for her sweet sailor dear.
O madam, he is not here,
He's drown-ed in the Gulf, I fear.
Near Rock Island as we passed by,
There I lost a fine sailor boy.
She wrung her hands, tore down her hair
Just like a lady in despair,
She wheeled her boat around
And against the rocks she ran,
Crying: How can I live when my sweet sailor is gone?
Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
Put a marble stone at my head and feet,
And on my breast place a green willow tree,
To testify that I died for thee.
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1. the first stanza has two changes- it appears:
O father, father, go build me a boat
That on the ocean I may float,
And every vessel that I pass by,
O these I'll enquire for my sweet sailor dear.