John Wesley Harding - Female Rambling Sailor Lyrics

Come all you maids, both near and far
And listen to my story
'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 female sailor.'

This maiden was resolved to go
Across the foaming ocean
She was resolved to let them know
How she could gain promotion
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

Like a sailor true she went on board
All for to do her duty
She was always ready at a call
This maid the queen of beauty
When in a calm this damsel young
Would charm the sailors with her tongue
As she walked the decks and sweetly sung
The female rambling sailor

When in the storm upon the sea
She was ready at her station
Her mind as calm as calm could be
She loved her occupation
From stem to stern she boldly goes
She braves all dangers, fears no foes
But soon you'll hear the overthrow
Of the female rambling sailor

This maiden did a wager lay
She'd go aloft with any
And up aloft she straight did go
Where times she had been many
The maiden bold oh sad to tell
She missed her hold and down she fell
And calmly bid the world farewell
Did the female rambling sailor

This maiden gay did fade away
Just like a drooping lily
Which made the sailors sigh and say
Farewell, faithful young Willy
When her snow white breasts in sight they came
They saw it was a female frame
Rebecca Young it was the name
Of the female rambling sailor.

May willows wave around her grave
And round the laurels planted
May roses sweet grow at the feet
Of one who was undaunted.
May a marble stone be inscribed upon
Here lies one so lately gone
A maiden fair as sun shone on
The female rambling sailor

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