Jack-a-Roe

Oh, there was a wealthy merchant, in London he did dwell
He had a lovely daughter, the truth to you I’ll tell
Oh, the truth to you I’ll tell
She had sweethearts a-plenty and men of high degree
There was none but Jackie Frazier, her true love e’er to be
Oh, her true love e’er to be
«Oh daughter, oh daughter, your body I will confine
If none but Jack the sailor would ever suit your mind
Oh, would ever suit your mind
«This body you may imprison, my heart you can’t confine
There’s none but Jack the sailor would have this heart of mine
Oh, would have this heart of mine
Now Jackie’s gone sailing with trouble on his mind
To leave his native country and his darling girl behind
Oh, his darling girl behind
She went into the tailor shop and dressed in men’s array
Then she went into the vessel to convey herself away
Oh, convey herself away
«Before you step onboard, sir, your name I’d like to know.»
She smiled all in her countenance, said, «They call me Jack-A-Roe
Oh, they call me Jack-A-Roe.»
«Your waist is light and slender, your fingers neat and small
Your cheeks too red and rosy for to face the cannonball
Oh, to face the cannonball
«I know my waist is slender and my fingers they are small
But they would not make me tremble for to see ten thousand fall
Oh, to see ten thousand fall.»
The war soon being over, they hunted all around
Among the dead and dying her darling love she found
Oh, her darling love she found
She picked him up all in her arms and carries him to town
And sent for her physician to quickly heal his wounds
Oh, to quickly heal his wounds
This couple, they got married, so well they did agree
This couple they got married, so why not you and me
Oh, so why not you and me