Jackaroe
Traditional:
courtesy of www.SailorSongs.com
There was a silk merchant in London he did dwell
He had only one daughter and the truth to you I’ll tell
This young lady she was courted by men of high degree
There was none but Jack the sailor would ever do for she
As soon as her waiting maid heard what she did say
She went to her father and there she did betray
Dear daughter if this be true what I have heard of you
Jackie shall be vanished and you confined too
Poor Jackie has gone to sea with trouble on his mind
A-leaving of his country and darling girl behind
She went into a tailor shop got dressed in men’s array
She went onto a vessel to convey herself away
Before you step onboard sir, your name I’d like to know
She smiled all over her countenance they call me Jackaroe
Your waist is light and slender your fingers neat and small
Your cheeks too red and rosy to face the cannonball
I know my waist is light and slender, my fingers are neat and small
But I never change my countenance to face the cannonball
The wars being over she hunted all around
Among the dead and wounded and her darling boy she found
She picked him all up in her arms and carried him back to the town
And sent for a physician who quickly healed his wounds
This couple they got married so well they did agree
This couple they got married and why not you and me
The author of this website has put a lot of time and effort into gathering the greatest collection of sea shanties for the world to enjoy - There are songs that have been to sung to a job of work at sea for many, many years and collecting them has been a great endeavour. - Roger Chartier has made the effort out of his own interest and the requests that he has gotten to do this work from fellow musicians who wanted a good source of sea shanties to draw on and learn from. He has been told that for this effort he is a remarkable man.
