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I Am a Brisk Young Sailor

[ Roud 1042 ; Ballad Index ReCi067 ; VWML GG/1/3/87 , GG/1/9/542 ; trad.]

Frank Purslow: The Wanton Seed James Reeves: The Everlasting Circle

Steve Jordan recorded I Am a Brisk Young Sailor for the 1974 Forest Tracks album Folk Songs From Hampshire of songs collected in 1905-09 by Dr. George B. Gardiner but the track was left out at the time. It was included in 2005 on the expanded 2 CD set Folk Songs From Hampshire and Dorset, replacing the song A Week’s Work Well Done; he felt strongly that its subject of domestic violence should not be considered entertainment in the twenty-first century and requested the song’s withdrawal from the re-issue. Paul Marsh noted on the new song:

Purslow notes that this is: “A rather uncommon song, not often collected. Thought to be originally of Irish origin. The tune, which sounds English enough, fits the words like a glove.” From the singing of Richard Hall at Itchen Abbas (1905) [VWML GG/1/3/87] . Text amended from a similar version from David Marlow, Basingstoke Workhouse, August 1906 [VWML GG/1/9/542] .

Tim Radford sang I Am a Brisk Young Sailor in 2012 on his Forest Tracks album of maritime songs collected by George B. Gardiner in Hampshire in 1905-1909, From Spithead Roads. He noted:

Collected from Richard ‘Dick’ Hall of Avington by Itchen Abbas in 1905, local manuscript No. H87 and Roud No. 1042 [VWML GG/1/3/87] . Also from David Marlow of Basingstoke and William Garrett of Petersfield. Text and tune used here as that found in Frank Purslow’s book The Wanton Seed p. 54. The text also can be found in James Reeves, The Everlasting Circle p. 155. I originally learnt the song from old friend Steve Jordan, who specialises in Dick Hall songs. The song seems to be unique to Hampshire, as the sources quoted above are the only ones in the Roud Index.

Lyrics

Tim Radford sings I Am a Brisk Young Sailor

I am a brisk young sailor all on the sea’s grand tide
For 14 years or over I’ve ploughed the ocean wide
And I value neither storm nor danger nor the raging of the seas
But at last I have been conquered and a captive I must be.

Our ship she is well rigged and like wise in full sail
From Linstown up to London with a good and pleasant gale
And if providence goes with us and fortune do prove kind
I’ll be back again in Linstown in 14 days fair wind.

And when we get to Linstown, at the Putney we will dine
And there I’ll toss a bumper of good brandy ale and wine
And I’ll freely spend ten guineas and over I will pay
If I can enjoy young Jenny, the charming chambermaid.

I can’t think what’s come to me that I should love a child
I can’t think what’s come to me that I should be beguiled
But if I was 10 years younger and she as old as me
I would make myself more bolder and speak my mind more free.

But since I cannot marry the girl that I adore
I’ll go and plough the ocean and never come on shore
I will journey to some country where no man do me know
Perhaps my mind may alter I wish it might be so.
For I never can find comfort when I at home do dwell
So you countrymen and maidens I bid you fond farewell.