| Play/Download Music File Lesley Nelson |
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| This tune is also known as Jack Monroe, Jackaroo and Jack Went A-Sailing. It first appears in print in the early 1900s.
The ballad is related to The Bonny Lighter Boy and is similar to The Valiant Lady. This version is as sung by Joan Baez. |
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 Jack the sailor, Her true love e'er could be Oh her true love e'er could be Now Jackie's gone a-sailing With trouble on his mind To leave his native country And his darling girl behind Oh, his darling girl behind. She went into a tailor shop And dressed in men's array And stepped on board a vessel To convey herself away Oh, to convey herself away. "Before you step on board, sir, Your name I'd like to know" She smiled all in her countenance, "They call me Jackaroe" Oh, they call me Jackaroe. "Your waist is light and slender, Your fingers are neat and small Your cheeks too red and rosy To face the cannonball" Oh, to face the cannon-ball. "I know my waist is slender, My fingers neat and small But it would not make me tremble To see ten thousand fall" Oh, to see ten thousand fall. The war soon being over, They hunted all around And among the dead and dying Her darling boy she found Oh, her darling boy she found. She picked him up all in her arms And carried him to the town And sent for a physician who Quickly healed his wounds Oh, who quickly healed his wounds. This couple they got married And well they did agree This couple they got married, So why not you and me Oh, so why not you and me. |
| From
The Joan Baez Songbook See Bibliography for full information. |
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