“Cruising Round Yarmouth”
Description
Sailor on leave in Yarmouth tells a girl he's a fast-going clipper; he takes her in tow to her house, where he puts his jib boom into her cabin. He drinks a health to the girl, and to the doctor who "squared his main yards -- he's a-cruising again"
Long description
Singer, a sailor taking shore leave in Yarmouth, meets a young woman. He tells her he's a fast-going clipper; she tells him her hold is free. She looks Dutch, "round at the quarters and bluff in the bow"; he takes her in tow through the town to her house, where she lowers her topsails and he puts his jib boom into her cabin. With his shot-locker empty and powder spent, "I can't fire a shot for it's choked at the vent." He drinks a health to the girl, and to the doctor who "squared his main yards -- he's a-cruising again"
Notes
It's worth noting that many Dutch prostitutes worked the streets of British ports. - PJS
Recordings
- Harry Cox, "Cruising Round Yarmouth" (on LastDays)
References
- Bone, pp. 77-82, "Blow th' Man Down" (2 texts, 1 tune, of which the second text may have a bit of "Cruising Round Yarmouth" in it, though that fragment may have been the inspiration for this song)
- Roud #2432
- BI, RcCRYar