The Sea Captain- Campbell (NS) 1919 Mackenzie A
[From The Quest of the Ballad by William Roy Mackenzie and also found in Ballads and Sea Songs from Nova Scotia, 1928, Version A. Some text from Mackenzie's Quest is given.
R. Mateson 2014]
A. Sea Captain. From the singing of Mrs. James Campbell, River John, Nova Scotia pre 1919.
But all new wine is not alike bad, and I have in my collection one song, "The Sea-Captain," which is not unworthy to be placed beside its mellow forefather ballad, "The Broomfield Hill,"—itself a version of a theme common to romance, tale, and legend, and almost as old and as widespread as the earth we tread on. The theme is that of the maiden who is lured into the power of a lover, but who exercises her nimble wits to such good effect—sometimes employing magic and sometimes lulling the wooer to sleep—that she is presently enabled to escape unsullied and unharmed. This theme is thus treated in "The Sea-Captain," a ballad as bright and attractive as the resourceful maiden herself:
It was of a sea captain that followed the sea,
Let the winds blow high or blow low O.
"I shall die, I shall die," the sea captain did cry,
"If I don't get that maid on the shore O."
This captain had jewels, this captain had gold,
This captain had costly a ware O.
And all he would give to this pretty fair maid
If she'd please take a sail from the shore O.
With great persuasions they got her on board,
The weather being fine and clear O.
She sang so sweet, so neat and complete,
That she sang all the seamen to sleep O.
She took all his jewels, she took all his gold,
She took all his costly a ware O.
She took his broad sword to make her an oar,
And she paddled her way to the shore O.
"O 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 roam all alone on the shore O,"
"Your men were not mad, your men were not drunk,
Your men were not deep in despair O.
I deluded your men as well as yourself,
I'm a maid again on the shore O."