The Handsome Cabin Boy(feat. Dave Swarbrick) - Dave Swarbrick/Martin Carthy

'Tis of a pretty female as you shall understand

Her mind was set on roving into some foreign land

Attired in sailor's clothing she boldly did appear

And engaged with a captain to serve him for one year

She engaged with the captain a cabin boy to be

The wind stood fine and clearly and so they put to sea

The captain's lady being on board

She seemed for to enjoy

So glad that the captain had engaged with a handsome cabin boy

Now so nimble was this pretty maid

She did her duty well

But mark what follows after

The song it soon will tell

By eating of the captain's biscuits her colour did destroy

And the waist did swell of pretty Nell

The handsome cabin boy

Now as through the Bay of Biscay

Our gallant ship did plough

One night among the sailors there was a pretty row

They bundled from their hammocks which did their rest destroy

They swore about the groaning of the handsome cabin boy

Oh doctor oh doctor

The cabin boy did cry

The sailors swore by all and one the cabin boy would die

The doctor ran with all his might

A smiling at the fun

To think that a sailor lad

Could have a daughter or a son

Now when the sailors all heard the joke

They all began to stare

The child belonged to none of them

They solemnly declared

The lady to the captain said

My lad I wish you joy

For it's either you or I betrayed the handsome cabin boy