106 - When I was a fair maid / Run the Riggin' Again

When I was a fair maid about seventeen
I enlisted in the Navy for to serve the queen
I enlisted in the Navy a sailor for to stand
For to hear the cannons rattling and the music so grand

The music so grand, the music so grand
For to hear the cannons rattling and the music so grand

The officer that enlisted me was a fine and handsome man
He said You’ll make a sailor so come along my lad
My waist being tall and slender my fingers long and thin
And the minute that they learned me I soon exceeded them

I soon exceeded them, I soon exceeded them
Oh the minute that they learned me I soon exceeded them

Well they sent me to my bunk and they sent me to my bed
To lies with the sailors I never was afraid
But taking off my bluecoat it often made me smile
For to think I laid with a thousand men and a maiden all the while

A maiden all the while, a maiden all the while
For to think I laid with a thousand men and a maiden all the while

Well they sent me up to London for to guard the tower
And surely might I been there till my very dying hour
But a lady fell in love with me so I told her I was a maid
Well she went up to my captain and my secret she betrayed

My secret she betrayed, my secret she betrayed
She went up to my captain and my secret she betrayed

The captain he came up to me and he asked if it was so
I dare not I dare not I dare not say no
A pity we should lose you such a sailor lad you made
It’s a pity we should lose you such a handsome young maid

A handsome young maid, a handsome young maid
It’s a pity we should lose you such a handsome young maid

So fare thee well my captain you’ve been so kind to me
And fare thee well my shipmates I must depart from thee
But if the Navy ever needs a lad a sailor I’ll remain
I’ll take off my hat and feathers and I’ll run the rigging again

I’ll run the rigging again, I’ll run the rigging again
I’ll take off my hat and feathers and I’ll run the rigging again