Short Jacket (Cabin Boy)

Oh once I had a sweetheart
Young Jimmy was his name,
And it's for the sake of Jimmy
That I crossed o'er the main.
And if I never do find him
I will mourn constantlie
All for the sake of Jimmy
A maid I will live and die.

Short jacket and sailor's breeches
This fair one she put on,
And like a brave young sailor
She boldly marched along.
She bargained with a sea captain
Her passage to be free,
And she would be his true companion
While crossing the raging sea.

One night as they were talking
A-going to their bed.
The captain to her bravely said
"I wish you was a maid.
For your cherry cheeks and ruby lips
Have so enchanted me,
That I do wish with all my heart
That you was a maid for me."

"O hold your tongue, now, Captain
Such talk is all in vain,
And if the sailors hear you
They will laugh and make you game.
But wait until we reach the shore
And two pretty maids we will find.
For you and me to sport and play
And with them drink our wine."

It happened a few days after
The gallant ship did land,
And as she stepped off on the dock
She waved her lily-white hand;
Saying," Once I was a sailor on your ship
But a maid I am on shore,
Adieu, adieu now, Captain
Adieu for evermore."

"If you'll come back, my pretty maid
And if you will marry me,
I have a large fortune
That I'll assign to thee.
Ten thousand guineas in bright gold
That I will assign to thee
If you will come back, my pretty maid
And say you will marry me."

"No, for once I had a sweetheart
Young Jimmy was his name,
And it's for the sake of Jimmy
That I crossed o'er the main.
And if I never do find him
I will mourn constantlie
All for the sake of Jimmy
A maid I will live and die."

From Traditional American Folk Songs, Warner and Warner
Collected from John Galusha, 1941
Note: A shorter version (slight variant of verses 2,3,4,5) was
recorded by Killen, 50 South to 50 South; this version (tune
SHRTJKT2) retains the baffled captain theme, but almost loses
her motivation, reducing it to the last line of the first verse RG
DT #444
Laws N12
RG