The Tarry Sailor
Contributors
Fieldworkers
Date
26 December 1959
Track ID
55298
Part 1
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1960.142.B1
Original Tape ID
Summary
In this song, a sailor encounters a fair young woman by the sea, and tries to win her affection. She rejects his advances because of his low degree and he is forced to leave her. After being seduced by a cunning swain she gives birth, and writes a letter begging the sailor to return. His reply tells her to take to begging with her baby.
Item Notes
8 verses of 4 lines, except verse 6 with 3 lines. Appears on a great number of broadsides held at the Bodleian Library, the earliest from 1780-1812 (Harding B 25(1375)). The sailor's reply implies that she will then understand rejection.
See:
'Idiom of the People' (J. Reeves, 1958) p. 108
Language
Scots
Genre
Collection
Classification
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Fair