Female Rambling Sailor

Come all you maids, both near and far
And listen to my ditty
'Twas near Gravesend there lived a maid
She was both neat and pretty.
Her true love he was pressed away
And drowned in some foreign sea
Which caused this fair maid for to say
'I'll be a rambling sailor.'

With jacket blue and trousers white
Just like a sailor neat and tight
The sea it was the heart's delight
Of the female rambling sailor.
From stem to stern she freely goes
She braves all dangers, fears no foes
But soon you shall hear of the overthrow
Of the female rambling sailor

Though never did her courage fail
'Twas stormy seas and winter gale
O'er this fair maiden did prevail
This female rambling sailor.
From stem to stern she freely went
Where oft-times she'd been many
Her hand did slip and down she fell
She calmly bade this world farewell.

When her lily-white breast in sight it came
It appeared to be a female's frame
Rebecca Young it was the name
Of the female rambling sailor.
May the willows wave around her grave
And round the laurels planted
May the roses sweet grow at her feet
Of one who was undaunted.

So, come all you maids, both near and far
And listen to my story
Her body is anchored in the ground
Let's hope her soul's in glory.
On the river Thames she's known real well
No sailor there could her excel
One tear let fall as a last farewell
To the female rambling sailor.

Recorded by Ian Robb, Rose and Crown
SF
Apr98