Short Jacket

Short jacket and blue trousers
This fair one she put on;
Just like some jolly seaman bold
She'd gaily move along.
She bargained with one Captain Roth
To work her passage free,
For to go and seek her own true-love
'Twas on the raging sea.

One night she sat a-dozing,
She were going to her bed;
The captain hove a smile and said,
"I wish you were a maid.
Your cherry cheeks and ruby lips
Have all enticed me.
I ofttimes wish within my heart,
You were the maid for me.

"Come hold your tongue, dearest captain;
Your talk is all in vain.
For if our sailors would come to know
They would make sport and game;
For when that we do reach the shore
Some handsome girls we'll find
For to rove along with those fair lads
That always were inclined.

It's about a few days after,
We reached the Irish shore,
"Here's adieu, here's adieu, here's adieu, captain,
Here's adieu forevermore.
A sailor once I been on board,
A maid I reach the shore.
Here's adieu, here's adieu, here's adieu, captain,
Here's adieu forevermore."

"Come turn you back, you fair one,
Come turn you back to me.
A sailor once you been on board,
A lady you might be."
"A sailor once I been on board,
A maid I reach the shore.
Here's adieu, here's adieu, here's adieu, captain,
Here's adieu forevermore."

From Ballads and Sea Songs of Newfoundland, Greenleaf
Collected from Mrs. Tom White, 1929
DT #444
Laws N12
Note: Killen recorded a very similar version in 50 North etc.RG
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