The Female Rambling Sailor


Come all young people far and near
And listen to my ditty,
At gravesend lived a maiden fair,
Who was both young and pretty.
Her lover he was press’d away,
And drowned in a foreign sea,
Which caus’d this maiden for to say
I’ll be a female Sailor.
This maid she was resolv’d to go
Across the foaming ocean,
She was resolv’d to let them know
How she could gain promotion.
With jacket blue, and trowers white
Just like a sailor neat and tight,
The sea it was the heart’s delight
Of the Rambling Female Sailor.
Like a sailor true she went on board,
All for to do her duty.
She was always ready at her call,
This maid, the queen of beauty.
When in a calm, this damsel young
Would charm the sailors with their tongue,
As she walk’d the decks and sweetly sung,
The Rambling Female Sailor.
When in a storm upon the sea,
She was ready at her station,
Her mind as calm as calm could be
She loved her occupation;
From stem to stern she’d boldly go,
She brav’d all dangers, fear’d no foe,
But soon you’ll hear the overthrow
Of the Rambling Female Sailor.
This maiden gay did a wager lay,
She would go aloft with any,
And up aloft she straight did go,
Where times she had been many.
This maiden bold–ah! sad to tell,
She missed her hold and down she fell,
And calmly bid this world farewell!
Did the Rambling Female Sailor.
This maiden gay did fade away
Just like a drooping willow,
Which made the sailors for to say
Farewell, young faithful Willy.
When her snow-white breasts in sight became,
She prov’d to be a female frame,
And Rebecca Young it was the name
Of the Rambling Female Sailor.
May willows wave all on her grave,
And laurels round it planted,
May roses sweet grow at the feet
Of one who died undaunted.
May a marble stone be inscribed upon
Near here lies one so lately gone,
A maiden fair as the sun shone on
The Rambling Female Sailor.
So all young men and maids around,
Come listen to my story,
Her body is anchor’d to the ground,
Let’s hope her sould’s in glory.
On the river Thames she was known full well,
Few sailors could with her excel
One tear let fall as the fate you tell,
Of the Rambling Female Sailor.


BBO Roud Number: 17784

Other website link: Bob Dylan (YouTube)