Judy Cook, Folksinger

Maid on the Shore

As Sung By Judy Cook

It's of a bold captain that sailed the salt seas
On a day that was fine, calm and clear
A beautiful damsel he chanced for to spy
As she walked all alone on the shore, shore
As she walked all alone on the shore

"Oh what would I give my bold sailors," he cried,
"Ten guineas, I vow and declare
If you'll bring me that maiden on board of my ship
That walks all alone on the shore, shore
That walks all alone on the shore."

So the sailors, they lowered a very long boat
And straight for the shore they did steer
Saying, "Ma'am, if you please, will you enter on board
To view a fine cargo of ware, ware
To view a fine cargo of ware?"

"But I have no money," the maiden replied,
"To buy any costly ware."
"Don't never mind that, now," the sailors replied,
"We'll trust you til you get on shore, shore
"We'll trust you til you get on shore."

With much persuading they got her on board
And back to the ship they did steer.
Our captain he smiled and he spat out his chew
Saying, "Fare you well sorrow and care, care
Oh fare you well sorrow and care."

The captain he poured out the best of his wine
It sparkled so bright and so true
Saying, "First you will lie in my arms all this night,
And then, I'll hand you to my crew, crew
Oh then I'll hand you to my crew."

"Oh thank you, oh thank you," this maiden replied,
"That's just what I've been waiting for,
For I've grown so weary of being a maid
As I walked all alone on the shore, shore
As I walked all alone on the shore."

Then she sat herself down in the stern of the ship,
Her voice was so sweet and so clear
She sang them so sweet, so neat, so complete,
She sang captain and sailors to sleep, sleep,
She sang captain and sailors to sleep.

Then she robbed them of sliver, she robbed them of gold,
She robbed them of costly ware
And our captain's broadsword she used for an oar
To row herself back to the shore, shore
To row herself back to the shore

"O were my men crazy, or were they all drunk,
Or were they sunk deep in despair
To let her get away with her beauty so gay?
Don't I wish that I had her once more, more
Don't I wish that I had her once more?"

And yonder she stands, all alone on the strand
A-waving her handkerchief fair
Saying, "You're still the captain that sails the salt seas,
And I'm still a maid on the shore, shore
And I'm still a maid on the shore."