The Female Rambling Sailor
(traditional, arranged by Sally Barker. Sally Barker, music Sally Barker, John Carlin)

Come all you maids both near and far
And listen to my ditty
'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 rambling sailor."

In her 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

From stem to stem she freely goes
She braves all dangers, fears no foes
But soon you shall hear of the overthrow
Of the female rambling sailor

No never did her courage fail
'Twas stormy winds and wintry gales
This fair maiden did prevail
This female rambling sailor

From stem to stem she freely went
Where oft times she'd been many
Her hand did slip and down she fell
She calmly bid this world farewell

When her lily-white breast in view it came
It appeared to be a woman's frame
Rebecca Young, it was the name
Of the female rambling sailor

May the willows wave around her grave
And round the laurels planted
May the roses sweet bloom at her feet
Of the one who was undaunted

Come all you maids both near and far
And listen to my story
Her body's anchored in the deep
Let's hope her soul's in glory

On the River Thames she's known so well
No man there could her excel
One tear let fall as the last farewell
To the female rambling sailor

In her 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

original version by Sally Barker

Sally Barker & the Rhythm
CD "Beating the Drum" Hypertension Music HYCD 200 124 (July 1992)

transcription 12-July-2019 by serge