Sweet William- Phoebe Smith (Suf) c.1975 Yates
[From: The Travelling Songster: An Anthology from Gypsy Singers, Jasper Smith, Levy Smith, Minty Smith, Phoebe Smith 1975-76. Their notes follow. A single stanza of "Must I go Bound" is attached at the end as it is similarly attached in the Died for Love songs. In this case it's confusing and and detracts from the story line.
R. Matteson 2017]
Bib: Ashton (The Sailor Boy - no page number). Laws K12 (numerous references given). Sharp vol. 2, pp. 320-3. Disc: Topic 12T 194 The Folksongs of Britain vol. 6 (Lal Smith). Wattle A52 Australian Traditional Singers and Musicians In Victoria (Simon McDonald).
Sweet William- Phoebe Smith (vocal) from north of Woodbridge in Suffolk, c. 1975, recorded Mike Yates.
1 There was six bonny sailors stood in a row
And my love William among the crew
He’s tall and handsome, both young and fair
If I don‘t have William I’ll have none at all.
2 Now he sails away on the morning tide
I stood on shore and watched that ship sail by
To plough the ocean both far and wide
When the sea is raging and the wind blows high.
3 ‘Now come father, come father, build to me a boat
And on the ocean I’m going to to float
To watch those Queen’s ships as they sail by
Then I will enquire for my Willie boy.’
4 She did not sail on the ocean far
Before a Queen’s ship she chanced to meet
‘Come Captain, Captain, now tell me true
The ship my love William’s on board with you?’
5 ‘Now what colour clothes did your Willie wear?‘
‘The colour blue with his eyes so true
His ruby lips they’re so fresh and fine
And ten thousand times they have been joined with mine.’
6 ‘Oh no fair lady he is not here
He‘s dead and drowned I am aware
The other night when the wind blew high
That’s when I lost sight of your Willie boy.’
7 ‘Now are you single and are you free
Or will you come love and marry me?’
‘I won’t be bound but I will go free
Until apples grow on an orange tree.’