Ship's Carpenter- Duplessis (NB) 1950 Manny/Wilson
From: Songs of the Miramichi, by Manny and Wilson 1968, collected in New Brunswick. Their notes follow. In this version of Gosport, her name is Polly and her ghost appears to Willie instead of Charles Stuart. Lightning bolts flash from her eye, the moralistic ending- clearly this a traditional version similar to the Roxburghe broadside (London, 1720-1750 and Boston c. 1776). Most of the other Canadian ballads more closely resemble the Deming broadside.
R. Matteson 2016]
Manny and Wilson's (Miramichi) notes: This doleful ballad is found in great variety among our folksingers in the Maritime Provinces. Four variants are given in Creighton and Senior's--Traditional Songs from Nova Scotia. Mr. Duplessis' rendering has resemblances to each of the four, although in it Willie himself has become the man "with courage so bold" to whom the ghost appears. This is certainly an improvement artistically on the variants which describe the appearance of a total stranger in the cast of characters.
THE SHIP'S CARPENTER- As sung by George Duplessis of Eel River Bridge, NB in 1950 for the North Shore Construction Company's Collection.
In Grand Lake City a damsel did dwell,
For youth and for beauty there's none could excel,
But a young man he courted her to make her his dear,
And he by his trade was a ship's carpenter.
He courted this fair one by day and by night,
And for to get married was his great delight,
But the king wanted men, to the war he was sent,
They parted to mee-et next morning by light.
"Arise, lovely Polly, and come along with me,
Before we will marry some friends for to see.
He led her through groves and through valleys most deep,
(Whereupon?) this fair damsel began for to weep.
"I'm afraid,lovely Willie, you've led me astray,
purpose my innocent life to betray."
"Oh, yes, lovely Polly, 'tis true what you say,
For the whole of last night I was digging your grave."
And on little further she chanced for to spy,
A grave newly dug and a spade laying by,
Her lily-white hand in agony wrung,
Saying, "To you, lovely Willie, whate'er have I done?"
"To you, lovely Willie, so coam-lye and fair,
How can you murder your Polly that loves you so dear?
Oh, pity my infant and take not my life,
Let me live full of shame if I can't be your wife."
"Oh, this is no time disputing to stand,"
When instantly holding a knife in his hand,
It hit her fair bosom till the blood down did flow,
And into the grave her fair body he threw.
And as he covered her over, those words he did say,
'I'll leave you my darling, to moulder away."
On board of a mantle, oh, quickly sailed he,
To sail to Bermuda far over the sea.
One night in his cabin young Willie did lay,
When the voice of the maiden to him it did say,
"Arise, lovely Willie, arise and behold,
A fair young damsel who you've led astray."
But Willie was a man of courage most bold,
He tried to escape in the very lowest hold.
She appeared to him there all in the great flight
With her babe in her arms like the image of life.
She vanished and went straight up to the sky,
And flashes of lightning came forth from her eye,
Up stepped the young Captain, also with his crew,
"You have murdered your Polly, young Willie, 'tis true."
But Willie was a-maze of this
He said he was guilty of such a sad crime.
He sailed for Bermuda far over the sea,
And Willie was taken and condemned to die.
Now, come all you young heroes, wherever you may be,
I hope you'll take warning from this sad tragedy.
(last three words spoken)