This song is a very old traditional ballad, of presumably British origin, also known as "Jack Monroe", "Jackie Frazier", "Jack the Sailor",.... It has been performed by Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, The Greatful Dead and many others.
JACKAROE (Lyrics):
There was a wealthy merchant, in London he did dwell He had a lovely daughter, the truth to you I'll tell Oh, the truth to you I'll tell
She had sweethearts a-plenty, and men of high degree If none but Jack the Sailor, her true lover could be Oh, her true lover could be
"Daughter, oh daughter, your body I will confine If none but Jack the Sailor, would ever suit your mind Oh, would ever suit your mind"
"This body you imprison, my heart you can't confine If none but Jack the Sailor, would have this heart of mine Oh, would have this heart of mine"
Jackie's gone a-sailing, with trouble on his mind To leave his native country, his darling girl behind Oh, his darling girl behind
She went into the tailor, and dressed in man's array And step on board a vessel, convey herself away Oh, convey herself away
"Before you step on board Sir, your name I'd like to know" She smiled all her countenance, "They call me Jack-A-Row, Oh, they call me Jack-A-Row"
"Your waist is light and slender, your fingers neat and small Your cheeks too red and rosy, to face the cannonball Oh, to face the cannonball"
"I know my waist is slender, my fingers they are small It would not make me tremble, to see ten thousand fall Oh, to see ten thousand fall"
The war soon being over, she went and looked around Among the dead and wounded, her darling boy she found Oh, her darling boy she found
She picked him up on her arms, and carried him to town And sent for her physician, to quickly heal his wounds Oh, to quickly heal his wounds
This couple they got married, so well did they agree This couple they got married, so why not you and me? Oh, so why not you and me?
