Nantucket Girl's Song

Then I'll haste to wed a sailor and send him off to sea
For a life of independence is the pleasant life for me
But every now and then I would like to see his face
For it always seems to me to beam with a manly grace
With his brow so nobly open and his dark and kindly eye
Oh my heart beats fondly towards him whenever he is nigh
But when he says goodbye me love I'm off across the sea
First I cry for his departure then I laugh because I'm free

-- Eliza Brock, 18th Century Islander

Oh I'm a man that's handsome, I'm strapping and I'm young
And when I gotta job to do, the job gets fuckin' done
I want a love to keep me happy I want a love that's true
And of all my past endeavors if it's smitten then I'm with you
So I'll put on my buckle and shoe and I'll comb up me hair
And I lighten up my belt and shirt so it's handsome I'll appear
And I'll work both day and night to keep the money rolling in
So I can come back to my love, so I can see you again

Oh to walk the street or countryside whatever I may know
I know that I will be O.K. where ever it is I go
So I'm sorry I don't want children to follow at my feet
I'm happy by myself not chasing kids into the street
Oh I wasn't born for marrying for the game or for the blame
And when my friends do call me I like hearing my own name
But when he says goodbye my dear, I'm off across the sea
First I cry for his departure, then I laugh because I'm free