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The Sea Apprentice

[ Roud 1671 ; G/D 1:54 ; Henry H739 ; Ballad Index HHH739 ; trad.]

Gale Huntington: Sam Henry’s Songs of the People Frank Purslow: The Foggy Dew

Boys of the Lough sang The Sea Apprentice in 1981 on their Topic album In the Tradition. They noted:

Cathal [McConnell] got this delightful wee song from our mutual friend the late Joe Holmes of Ballymoney, Co Antrim. Joe in turn learned it from his mother, who was the source of many of his songs. The great Coleraine folksong collector Sam Henry also noted versions of the song in the ’30s from two other Co Antrim singers, Mrs Margaret De Largy of Glenariff and Alexander Crawford of Leek.

Roisín White learned Apprentice Boy from Joe Holmes too. She sang it in 1992 on her Veteran Tapes cassette The First of My Rambles. And she sang it as Sea Apprentice on the CD of songs from Robert Cinnamond’s repertoire sung by Northern Irish singers that accompanied her 2019 book on Robert Cinnamond, ’Tis Pretty to Be in Ballinderry.

John Doyle sang The Apprentice Boy on his 2005 CD Wayward Son. He noted:

Early on in the process of this CD I asked Ed Haber if he knew of any song that would be good to revisit and he suggested this one that Cathal McConnell sung on an early Boys of the Lough recording.

Francy Devine sang The Sea Apprentice on his 2014 CD My Father Told Me. He noted:

I first heard this sung at the Howth Singing Circle by Miceál Quinn from Mullaghbawn, County Armagh. It is in Sam Henry’s Songs of the People, p. 291, H739, 22 January 1938, collected from the fiddling and singing of Margaret de Largy, Waterfoot, Glenariff, County Antrim, with additions from Alexander Crawford, Leek, Ballymena. It is sung widely in Ireland, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. The version here differs from Henry’s five verses and I’m not entirely sure where I acquired additional verses from.

Helen Diamond sang The Sea Apprentice on her eponymous 2018 CD of traditional unaccompanied singing from Ireland, Helen Diamond. She noted:

I learned this song from Roisín White’s recording, The First of My Rambles. I like that it is one of the few songs I have heard in which the sailor is shown in a positive light!

Lyrics

John Doyle sings The Apprentice Boy

When first I went to sea, apprentice bound
I sailed the salt seas all round and round;
I scarce had sailed a voyage but one
When I fell in love with my charming Ann.

I went to my Captain, both stout and bold
And unto him my story told,
Saying, “I love this lass as I love my life;
What would I do if she were my wife?”

“Well,” the Captain said, “you’re a foolish boy
For to court a girl that you’ll ne’er enjoy.
For she’ll have sweethearts when you’re at sea
And she’ll be married e’er you be free.”

Well, I don’t know but I’ll go and try
For she might fancy an apprentice boy
And she might alter her mind for me
And wait on me until I be free.

Well, I bought her rings and I bought her clothes,
These things to prove of a heart that loves.
She accepted all and she was not shy
And she vowed she’d wait for her apprentice boy.

When my voyage is ended and my work is o’er
I’ll steer my barque for sweet Erin’s shore;
In my native country, my love I’ll enjoy
And good luck will shine on the apprentice boy.

Helen Diamond sings The Sea Apprentice

When first I went a sea apprentice bound,
I sailed the salt seas all round and around,
I scarce had sailed a voyage but one,
When I fell in love with my darling Anne.

I went up to my captain both stout and bold,
And unto him my secret told,
“I love yon lass as I love my life,
What would I give if she were my wife?”

Well the captain said, “You’re a foolish boy,
For to court a girl that you’ll ne’er enjoy.
For she’ll have lovers while you’re at the sea,
And she’ll be married ere you be free.”

Well I don’t know but I’ll go and try
For she might fancy an apprentice boy;
And she might alter her mind for me
And wait on me until I be free.

Well I bought her ribbons and I bought her gloves,
These things to prove of a heart that loves.
She accepted all and she was not shy,
And she vowed she’d wait for her apprentice boy.

And when my ship is anchored and my work is o’er,
I’ll steer my bark for sweet Erin’s shore.
In my native country my love I’ll enjoy,
And she’ll welcome home her apprentice boy.

So come all you sea apprentices where’er you be,
Never slight your true love while you’re at the sea.
Just love her as you love your life,
And she’ll consent to become your wife.