Sailor Boy- Geordie Robertson (aber) 1954 REC Henderson
[From: School of Scottish Studies; Original Track ID - SA1954.99.B6
Listen:
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/play/76544;jsessionid=AB4D477FA54DD100E5C27D51AFFC65AB
R. Matteson 2017]
Sailor Boy- sung by Geordie Robertson (b. 1871) of New Deer Aberdeenshire in August 1954; recorded by Hamish Henderson.
Sailin', sailin's a weary life,
It's ta'en from me my heart's delight,
It's left here for to sigh and mourn,
A-waiting on my true love's return.
Oh father, father build me a boat,
And on thy ocean I may float.
And ev'ry small boat that I'll pass by,
I'll make inquires for my sailor boy.
She didn't sail long oh upon the deep,
Till a man o' war ship she chanced to meet,
Oh sailor, sailor come tell me true,
Has my dear Willie be's on board with you?
What colour of hair had your Willie dear?
What colour of clothes had your Willie wear?
His hair was yellow and his suit was blue[1],
And he wears a suit of the royal blue.
I doubt, I doubt, and I greatly fear,
That your dear Willie is not here,
Last night, last night as the wind blew high,
It's there we lost a fine sailor boy.
She wrung her hands and she tore her hair,
Like any mad woman in deep despair,
[forgets and skips ahead]
Oh bring to me paper pen and ink,
And I will write to my hearts content,
And ev'ry line oh she shed a tear
And ev'ry line it was Willie dear.
1. usually "his heart was true" to rhyme