Poor Jack

I am poor Jack. I am right from sea,
And lucky is my portion.
I've got gold and silver too;
A long time I've plowed the ocean.

I come on shore to see my love,
To see if she would marry me.
"Say, pretty pretty Nancy, will you, yes or no,
Will you wed with a tarry sailor?"

"Oh, no, oh, no !" all in a frown,
"For I can get a man of high renown [1]
I can get a man of high renown:
Do you think I'd wed with a sailor?"

He run his hands all in his purse
And hauled them out full of glittering gold.
"Say, pretty Nancy, will you, yes or no,
Will you wed with a tarry sailor?"

"Oh, yes, oh, yes !" all in a smile,
"For I've been joking all the while,
I've been joking all the while.
To be sure I'll wed with a sailor."

"If you've been joking, I've been just.
I see it's the gold that you like best,
I see it's the gold that you like best.
You'll never wed with this sailor."

Now I'll set up some public line.
The gold and silver it will shine.
Cause pretty Nancg to weep and mourn
To think she had slighted a sailor.

[1] The manuscript has "higher noun." The folk process doesn't always
improve things. For similar theme, see Green Beds RG
From North Carolina Folklore, Brown
Collected from J. B. Midgett, NC 1922
DT #723
Laws K37
RG
oct96