The Constant Female
The Rakish Female Sailor.
I am a rakish fair maid, who dare not well be seen,
And for the sake of Jemmy, I dare not be seen,
I’ll cross the raging seas, if Jemmy he is dead,
I will mourn constantly, all for my Jemmy’s sake
I’ll cross the raging seas, &c.
A tarry jacket and blue trousers this maiden did put on,
And like a gallant sailor she briskly moved along
She bargain’d with a captain her passage to get free,
To be his own companion crossing o’er the sea.
As they were a stripping them, and jumping into bed,
The captain did sigh and say, I wish you were a maid:
Your ruby lips and cherry cheek have so enticed me.
That I do wish with all my heart you were a maid said he.
O hold your tongue, dear captain, O hold your tongue said she,
If the sailors should now hear us, they would make game of me
For when that we do reach the shore, some handsome girls you’ll find,
To sport among the fair maids I always was inclin’d
In less than two days sailing our ship did reach the shore,
She said farewell, dear captain, adieu for evermore
A sailor I was once on board, but now I’m a maid on shore,
He said, return my dearest lady, for you I do adore
It is a handsome portion I will bestow on thee
Five hundred bright sovereigns now the sum shall be.
If you consent to marry me, O say you will be mine,
O, hold your tongue, dear captain, you talk is all in vain,
O, for the sake of Jemmy I cross’d the raging sea
For he was the only lad, I could love none but he
If my Jemmy should be he dead, I will mourn constantly,
And for the sake of Jemmy, a maid I’ll live and die.
*Transcriber’s note: Dugaw’s catalogue contains multiple variants of this ballad; this is the first of the variants listed. To review other variants of this ballad, please consult the Dugaw catalogue.