The Handsome Cabin Boy
The Female Cabin Boy. OR, the Row among the Sailors.
J. Catanach, Printer, 2 & #, Monmouth-court, 7 Dials.
It’s of a pretty female as you shall understand,
She had a mind of roving into a foreign land
Attired in sailor’s clothing she boldly did appear,
And engaged with the captain to serve him for one year.
She engaged with the captain as cabin boy to be,
The wind it was in favor so they soon put out to sea
The captain’s lady being on board who seem’d it to enjoy,
So glad the captain had engaged the pretty cabin boy.
So nimble was that pretty maid & done her duty well
But mark what followed often the thing itself will tell
The captain with that pretty maid did oftimes kiss and toy,
For he soon found out the secret of the female cabin boy.
Her cheeks appeared like roses and with her side locks curled
The sailors often smiled and said he looks just like a girl,
By eating captain’s biscuit her colour did destroy,
And the waist did swell of pretty Nell the pretty cabin boy.
As thro’ the Bay of Biscay their gallant ship did plow,
One night among the sailors there was a pretty row,
They bundled from their hammocks it did their rest destroy,
And they swore about the groaning of the handsome cabin boy.
O doctor, O doctor, the cabin did cry,
The sailors swore by all was good the cabin boy would die,
The doctor ran with all his might and smiling at the fun,
For to think a sailor lad should have a daughter or son.
The sailors when they heard the joke they all began to stare,
The child belong’d to none of them they solmenly did swear,
The lady to the captain said, my dear I wish you joy,
For it’s either you or I betray’d the handsome cabin boy.
So they all took a bumper and drank success to trade
And likewise to the cabin boy, tho’ neither man nor maid,
And if the waves should rise again the sailors to destroy,
Why then must ship some sailors like the handsome cabin boy.
BBO Roud Number: 239
Other website link: Mainly Norfolk