The Sailor Boy- (London) 1810 Merry Songs. J. Evans
[Ca. "The Sailor Boy." ('Down by a christal river side") from Merry Songs No. 15, printed by J. Evans, London, c1810.
The C versions (Oikotype C) are the older English versions and broadsides. Two identifiers, the Sailor's name Jemmy (Jimmy) and French ships, are also found in Irish versions. The opening stanza is similar to the opening of "Constant Lady and the False-Hearted Squire," a 1686 broadside aligned with the Died for Love songs. Three print version of C have been found with very similar text-- this is Ca, "The Sailor Boy," from the collection, "Merry Songs," No. 15, printed by J. Evans, London, dated c.1810.
Text similar to John Gay's text from his 1720 poem/song "Black-Eyed Susan" appears in the last half of stanza 3 and the first half of stanza 4. See the use of "jovial sailors" in both. The "jovial sailors" text has been found in several instance in tradition.
R. Matteson 2017]
15. The Sailor Boy
1. Down by a christal river side,
Where silver streams did sweetly glide,
I heard a fair maiden making her moan,
How can I live now my Jemmy's gone.
2. Go fetch me some little boat
That on the ocean I may float,
Thro' the French ships as they pass by
Enquiring for my sailor boy.
3. She had not sailed long on the deep
Before five sail of the French ships she did meet,
Come tell me ye jovial ship's crew,
If my true love sails along with you.
4. O no fair lady he is not here,
For he is drown'd I greatly fear,
For on yonder green island as I past by
There we did lose your poor sailor boy.
5. She wrung her hands and tore her hair
Just like a woman in despair,
Her boat against the rocks she run,
O I ne'er can live now my Jemmy's gone.
6. So come ye maids who dress in black,
That for a sailor boy you do lack,
With a black topmast and sails so wide,
Which parted me and my sailor boy.
7. Down by the silent shady grove,
There will I mourn for my true love,
And tell the small birds all my grief,
For they alone afford some relief.