Six Folksongs from Norfolk

One morning in the month of June, down by the riverside,
There I beheld a bold fisherman come rowing by the tide.

(Refrain)
 Come rowing by the tide --
 There I beheld a bold fisherman come rowing by the tide.

He lashed his boat up by the stern, and to his lady went.
He took her by the milk-white hand, for she was his intent.

(Refrain)
For she was his intent --
He took her by the milk-white hand, for she was his intent.

"I'll take you to my father's hall, and there make you my bride.
Then you will have a bold fisherman to row you on the tide."

(Refrain)
 To row you on the tide --
 Then you will have a bold fisherman to row you on the tide.

Come all my brisk young seaman lads that have a mind to enter
On board a famous frigate your precious lives to venture,
On board a famous frigate she's Richard called by name,
And she's cruising with the Shannon all on the French main.
Singing "What Cheer O!"

Now we'd not been sailing many leagues before we did espy
Three lofty sails to windward, they came bearing down so nigh.
And two of them were merchantmen came bowling from the west,
But the convoy was a frigate that did sail out of Brest.
Singing "What Cheer O!"

Now we bore down upon them with high and lofty sails;
For broadside for broadside we soon o'er them prevailed
When he lashed his helm o' weather, not thinking we could fly.
When they found their ship was sinking for quarter they did cry.
Singing "What Cheer O!"

Now we launched out our longboats and the others did likewise,
To save all those prisoners that ever we came nigh.
And those which we saved, they vow and protest
We sunk the finest frigate that did sail out of Brest.
Singing "What Cheer O!"

So come all my brisk young fellows now to Kingston we have got;
Let each of a hearty fellow drink out of a hearty pot,
For some unto their sweethearts and others to their wives.
So we'll sing Hallelujah to all England, my brave boys.
Singing "What Cheer O!"

As I walked out one bright May morning
For to view the fields and to take the air,
There I espied a fair young damsel,
She appeared to me like some angel bright.

I said "My dear, where are you going,
What is the cause of all your grief?
I'll make you as happy as any lady,
If you'll once more grant me relief."

"Stand off, stand off, you are deceitful,
Stand off you are a deceitful man.
'Tis you that have caused my poor heart to wander,
And to give me comfort is all in vain."

Then I'll go down to some lonely waters,
Go down where no one they shall me find,
Where the pretty little small birds do change their voices,
And every moment blows blustering wild.

As I walked up of London street
A press-gang there I did meet:
They asked me if I'd join the fleet
And sail in a man-o'-war, boys.

Pray, brother shipmates, tell me true
What sort of usage they give you,
That I may know before I go
On board of a man-o'-war, boys.

Why the sort of usage they'll give you
Is plenty of grog and bacca too:
That's the usage they'll give you
On board of a man-o'-war, boys.

But when I went, to my surprise
All that they told me was shocking lies:
There was a row and a bloody old row,
On board of a man-o'-war, boys.

The first thing they did they took me in hand,
They flogged me with a tar of a strand:
They flogged me till I could not stand,
On board of a man-o'-war, boys.

Now I was married and my wife's name was Gray,
'Twas she that led me to shocking delay:
'Twas she that caused me to go away,
On board of a man-o'-war, boys.

So when I get my foot on shore,
Those Irish girls to see once more,
I'll never go to sea any more,
On board of a man-o'-war, boys.

O come all you young fellows that carry your gun,
I'd have you get home by the light of the sun,
For young Jimmy was a fowler and a-fowling alone,
When he shot his own true love in the room of a swan.

Then home went young Jimmy with his dog and his gun,
Saying, "Uncle, dear uncle, have you heard what I've done?
Cursèd be that old gunsmith that made my old gun --
I have shot my own true love in the room of a swan."

Then out came bold Uncle with his locks hanging grey,
Saying, "Jimmy, dear Jimmy, don't you go away.
Don't you leave your own country till your trial come on,
For you never will be hangèd for  ...  shooting a swan".

So the trial came on and pretty Polly did appear,
Saying, "Uncle, dear uncle, let Jimmy go clear,
For my apron was bound round me and he took me for a swan.
And his poor heart lay bleeding for Polly his own."

I am an Oxford sporting blade, likewise a gallant hero;
I've just come down from London town for to view the hills of Dear Oh.

The very first man I chanced to meet he was a lord of honour;
I did insult this noble lord all in such roguish manner.

I drew my pistol to my breast and didn't I make him shiver;
Five hundred pounds all in bright gold to me he did deliver.

Beside the gold a Geneva watch to me he did surrender;
And I thought it was a splendid prize the very first time I did venture.

I took a handful of the same and I bought a slashing gelding;
And he could go and jump a five-barred gate and I bought him off Mister Sheldon.

So up to London I will go as fast as the wind can blow me:
I am resolved on liberty, there's none up there to control me.