The Sailor and the Ghost
A little ballad for Halloween, from the Royal Museums Greenwich, dating from 1805.
The Sailor and the Ghost
A whimsical ballad - As sung by Mr Moody, Mr Suett, and Mr R. Palmer
Tis of a sailor this song I write,
Who on the seas took great delight,
The female sex for to beguile,
At length two were by him with child.
He promis'd to be true with both,
And bound them safe all in an oath,
To marry one, if he had life,
And one of them he made his wife.
The other being left alone,
Said Oh! You false deluding one,
by me you've done a wicked thing,
Which public shame will to you bring.
Then to a silent wood she went,
Her public shame for to prevent,
And soon she finished up the strife,
And cut the tender thread of life.
She hang'd herself upon a tree -
Two me, a hunting, did her see -
Her flesh by birds was beastly tore,
Which griev'd the young men's hearts full sore.
Straight way they went and cut her down,
but in her breast a note was found;
the note was written out at large -
Bury me not, I do you charge -
But on the ground here let me lie,
When every one that passeth by
May, by me, a warning take,
And see the folly when 'tis too late.
So, as he is false, I will be just,
And her eon earth he shall have no rest.
So as she said, she plagu'd him so,
Till, at last, to sea he was forc'd to go.
As he was on the mainmast high,
He did a little boat espy;
And to prevent the wicked thing,
It made him tremble every limb.
Down on the deck this young man goes,
And to his captain his mind disclos'd;
There is a spirit coming hence,
I pray you stand in my defece.
Upon the deck the cpatin goes,
And there he spy'd a fatal ghost;
Ghost - "Captain (said she) you must and can
"With speed help me to such a man."
Capt. - "In St Helens this young man dy'd
"And in St Helens his body lies.
Ghost - "Captain (said she), do not say so,
"He is dwelling down in your ship below:
"And if you stand up in his defence,
"A mighty storm I will send hence,
"Will cause your men and you to weep,
"And leave you sleeping in the deep."
Down from the deck this captain goes,
And brought this young man to his foes.
She fix'd her eyes on him so grim,
It made him tremble every limb.
It was well known I was a maid,
When first by you I was betray'd;
I am a spirit, come for you,
You baulk'd me once, but I'll have you now.
Then, to preserve both ship and men,
Into a boat they forced him;
The boat sunk down in a flame of fire,
Which made he sailors all admire.
MORAL
All you that do to love belong,
Now you have heard this mournful song,
Be true to one, lest ill betide,
And don't delude poor woman kind.
Published 25 March 1805, by Laurie and Whittle, No. 53, Fleet Street, London.
The Sailor and the Ghost
A whimsical ballad - As sung by Mr Moody, Mr Suett, and Mr R. Palmer
Tis of a sailor this song I write,
Who on the seas took great delight,
The female sex for to beguile,
At length two were by him with child.
He promis'd to be true with both,
And bound them safe all in an oath,
To marry one, if he had life,
And one of them he made his wife.
The other being left alone,
Said Oh! You false deluding one,
by me you've done a wicked thing,
Which public shame will to you bring.
Then to a silent wood she went,
Her public shame for to prevent,
And soon she finished up the strife,
And cut the tender thread of life.
She hang'd herself upon a tree -
Two me, a hunting, did her see -
Her flesh by birds was beastly tore,
Which griev'd the young men's hearts full sore.
Straight way they went and cut her down,
but in her breast a note was found;
the note was written out at large -
Bury me not, I do you charge -
But on the ground here let me lie,
When every one that passeth by
May, by me, a warning take,
And see the folly when 'tis too late.
So, as he is false, I will be just,
And her eon earth he shall have no rest.
So as she said, she plagu'd him so,
Till, at last, to sea he was forc'd to go.
As he was on the mainmast high,
He did a little boat espy;
And to prevent the wicked thing,
It made him tremble every limb.
Down on the deck this young man goes,
And to his captain his mind disclos'd;
There is a spirit coming hence,
I pray you stand in my defece.
Upon the deck the cpatin goes,
And there he spy'd a fatal ghost;
Ghost - "Captain (said she) you must and can
"With speed help me to such a man."
Capt. - "In St Helens this young man dy'd
"And in St Helens his body lies.
Ghost - "Captain (said she), do not say so,
"He is dwelling down in your ship below:
"And if you stand up in his defence,
"A mighty storm I will send hence,
"Will cause your men and you to weep,
"And leave you sleeping in the deep."
Down from the deck this captain goes,
And brought this young man to his foes.
She fix'd her eyes on him so grim,
It made him tremble every limb.
It was well known I was a maid,
When first by you I was betray'd;
I am a spirit, come for you,
You baulk'd me once, but I'll have you now.
Then, to preserve both ship and men,
Into a boat they forced him;
The boat sunk down in a flame of fire,
Which made he sailors all admire.
MORAL
All you that do to love belong,
Now you have heard this mournful song,
Be true to one, lest ill betide,
And don't delude poor woman kind.
Published 25 March 1805, by Laurie and Whittle, No. 53, Fleet Street, London.