The Maid on the Shore- (NL) 1954 Fowke
[From: Folk Songs of Canada- Fowkes and Johnson, 1954. I assume this is a compilation because no informant is attributed. Fowke collected this ballad at least once (Michigan). Their notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
This ballad is very popular in both Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, for collectors have found at least seven different sets of words and four different tunes. This follows most closely the one collected by Mrs. Greenleaf in 1929.
"The Maid on the Shore" obviously comes from Britain, but the only trace of it found there is one stanza given in Joyce's Old Irish Music and Song under the title of "The Mermaid." The story of a girl who manages to outwit a man hos many counterparts
in folklore, from "The Baffled Knight" (Child 112) to "Broomfield Hill" (Child 43), while the spell-binding power of her song suggests the Rhine legend of the Lorelei.
l. There was a young maiden who lived all alone,
She lived all alone on the shore, O;
There was naught she could find that would comfort her mind
But to roam all alone on the shore, shore, shore,
But to roam all alone on the shore.
2. There was a young captain who sailed the salt sea,
Let the winds blow high or blow low, O;
"l will die, I will die," the young captain did cry,
"If I don't get that maid on the shore, shore, shore,
If I don't get that maid on the shore.
3. "l hove lots of silver, I hove lots of gold,
I hove lots of costly wear, O;
I'll divide, I'll divide with my jolly ship's crew,
If they'll row me that maid from the shore, shore, shore,
If they'll row me that maid from the shore."
4. With long persuading they got her on board,
Let the winds blow high or blow low, O,
Where he placed her o chair in his cabin below,
"Here's adieu to all sorrows and core t care, care,
Here's adieu to all sorrows and care."
5. The night was so still and the water so calm,
Let the winds blow high or blow low, O,
She song charming and sweet, she song neat and complete,
She song captain and sailors to sleep, sleep, sleep,
She song captain and sailors to sleep.
6. She robbed him of silver, she robbed him of gold,
She robbed him of costly wear, O,
And she stole his broadsword to make her an oar,
And she paddled her way to the shore, shore, shore,
And she paddled her way to the shore.
7. "Oh, were my men mad or were my men drunk,
Or were my men deep in despair, O,
To let her away with her beauty so gay
To room all alone on the shore, shore, shore,
To room all alone on the shore?"
8; "Your men were not mod, your men were not drunk,
Your men were not deep in despair, O,
I deluded the sailors as well as yourself;
I'm a maiden again on the shore, shore, shore,
I'm a maiden again on the shore."