Death of Nelson/The Rakish Sailor

by Anonymous

THE RAKISH SAILOR.

When I was a rakish young sailor,
I never took care in my life;
I travelled the country all over,
And every town a frseh wife.
But give me the girl that loves me,
And bless me for this happy life,
She will dance unto me a French caper;
O a countay girl for my wife.

I have sail'd in stormy cold weather,
I have been in both hot and cold,
I have sailed the ocean all over,
In venturing my life for bright gold.
Thank God, now the wars are all over,
And I myself safe on the shore,
Yet bless me for ever and ever
If I go to the seas any more.

I'll send for my friends and relations,
I will send for them every one;
And 'tis for to make you all hearty,
I'll send for a cask of good rum.
I'll send for a cask of good rum;
And three or four barrels of beer,
And 'tis all for to welcome the lasses
That meet me at Port-Glasgow fair.

And when I am dead and buried,
O there is an end of my life,
Never you be a-sobbing and crying,
But do a good turn for my wife.
Never you lie a-sobbing and crying,
There is one single favour I crave,
Lap me up in my tarpolin jacket,
And fiddle and dance to my grave.

I will have four young sailors to carry me,
Pray let then be tolerably drunk;
Along by the way as they ramble,
Let them fall by the way with my trunk.
Let them al be laughing and jeering,
Like men who are all going mad,
Let them drink a glass over my coffin,
Crying, there lies a true-hearted lad.

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