The Ship's Carpenter- Betsy Pike (Som) 1906 Sharp MS
[Single stanza with music from: Cecil Sharp Manuscript Collection (at Clare College, Cambridge) (CJS2/10/796). This version is similar to the broadside Polly's Love. Additional text from Mrs. Snow.
R. Matteson 2016]
The Ship's Carpenter- sung by Betsy Pike of Somerton, Somerset on 18 January, 1906. Collectors: Mrs. Snow/Cecil Sharp
In Worcester Town in fair Worcestershire
There was young damsel which did live there
And a young man he courted her to be his dear
And he was by his trade were a ship's carpenter.
'Twas early one morning before it was day,
Young Billy came to her and these words did say:
'Oh Polly, oh Polly you must go with me,
Before we get married my friends for to see."
He led her through woods and through forests so deep,
He made this young damsel to sigh and to weep,
"Oh Billy, oh Billy thou didn't come this way
Intention my innocent life to destroy."
" 'Tis true young Polly what thou has been said,
For all night long I've been digging thy grave."
The grave being open and she standing by,
Which made this young damsel to sigh and to cry.
"Oh Billy, oh Billy, oh pardon my life
For I never did covet to be thy wife,
The country all 'round I will set thee free,
Oh pardon, oh pardon my baby and me."
"no pardon I'll give thee and this he did stand
He drawed the sharp knife out into his hand
And stabbed her heart till the blood did run through
And into the grave her fair body he threw.
He covered her over so safe and so sound
thin king this murder would never be found
And he went on board to sail the world 'round,
Before the dreadful murder were found.
'Twas early one morning before it was day,
The captain stepped up and these words he did say:
"There's a murder on board- lately been done
Our ship she's in mourning and cannot sail on."
Up stepped one, "Indeed it's not me,"
And up stepped another, "Indeed it's not me,"
Then up stepped young Billy so vastly[1] with speed,
'It's not me I vow and declare."
Returning from the Captain so vastly with speed
He met his dear Polly which made his heart bleed
She stripped him, she tore him, she tore him in three,
Because he had murdered his baby and she.