Susan Graham Pepper - Silk Merchant’s Daughter

12. Silk Merchant’s Daughter
(trad. from Ginny Hawker/Maggie Parker)

As I walked down 4th street
A jolly young sailor, I chanced for to see
I said brother sailor, oh where are you bound?
I’m bound for New London or some other rich town

Our ship being rigged and ready to sail
We drew up the anchor, we drew up the sail
For six months we sailed her, all hearts were content
Til the ship sprang a leak, to the bottom it went

All 44 of us sailors got in a lifeboat
Way out on the ocean, all alone there did float
Provisions grew scarce and death it drew nigh
We each drew our number to see which one would die

Our names being written and put in a hat
We each drew our number, we each drew our lot
Amongst all these sailors, one damsel drew less
She was to be killed by the one she loved best

Before I could kill you, my heart it would burst
Before I could kill, my love I’d die first
Oh stop, said the captain, hold on all you men
Think of how very few people would die for a friend

Their knives being sharpened, there’s murderin’ to do
When stop said this lady for a moment or two
Oh stop said this lady, hold on to your tongues
I hear a ship a’ comin-by her loud roaring guns

In the a space of one moment they all looked around
They saw a ship a comin for to take them all in
Straight away to New London, this ship was conveyed
Straight away to get married went this young man and maid