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The Watchet Sailor

[ Roud 917 ; Master title: The Watchet Sailor ; Laws P4 ; Ballad Index LP04 ; DT SAILTAI2 ; Mudcat 74809 ; trad.]

The Foggy Dew One Hundred English Folksongs

George Withers sang The Watchet Sailor to John Howson in 1995 at Horton, Somerset. This recording was published in 1995 on Withers’ Veteran cassette The Fly Be on the Turmut and in 2001 on the Veteran compilation CD When the Wind Blows. John Howson commented in the latter’s booklet:

Although Cecil Sharp collected three versions of this song—two in Somerset and one in Sussex—and Helen Creighton found it being sung as far away as Nova Scotia (Traditional Songs From Nova Scotia, 1950), this is not a particularly common song. Freda Palmer, an Oxfordshire singer, sang bits of it, unlike George who, thankfully, knew the song in its entirety.

Tom & Barbara Brown sang The Watchet Sailor in 2007 on their WildGoose CD West Country Night Out, and a year later on their CD Beyond the Quay. They noted:

Another wonderful English lyrical song collected by Cecil Sharp, this time from Captain Lewis (retired) of Minehead, Somerset, in 1906. Try walking from Watchet to Bristol overnight, and you’ll get some idea of how determined this sailor was to reclaim his sweetheart.

Emily Portman sang Watchet Sailor in 2008 on Rubus’ CD Nine Witch Knots. She noted:

A song about those notorious jack-tars who come home from sea and steal the hearts of the ladies! Farmer and singer George Withers sang to me Watchet Sailor when I asked him for a song from Somerset. Of course, as George said, songs have always moved around and to get caught up in squabbling over their origins can be a thankless task, but as it mentions the town of Watchet we’re going to claim it for Somerset!

James Findlay sang The Watchet Sailor in 2012 on his Fledg’ling CD Another Day Another Story. He noted:

This song, along with so many other things, seems to be unique to Minehead in Somerset! It was collected from Captain Lewes and was one of his favourite ditties. In Sharp’s words, “Singing is always a pleasure to him; but he fairly bubbles over with delight and merriment when he sings The Watchet Sailor.”

Nick Dow sang The Watchet Sailor on his 2013 CD Old England’s Ground.

David Milton sang The Watchet Sailor on his 2018 CD Songs From the Bell Man. He noted:

This was the very first song I ever heard about Watchet. I must have been just 7 or 8 years old when I learnt it from Gordon Kidd of Porlock; he was singing it while working with my Dad at Clarks shoe factory.

Alex Cumming sang Watchet Sailor on his 2020 download album Isolation Sessions: The Songs and on his 2024 album Homecoming. He noted:

I was very lucky to grow up in the same village as the late, great traditional folk singer, George Withers. It was a really special evening when George was present at our local folk session, always bringing fabulous songs such as this and many comical songs.

Watchet is an utterly beautiful harbour town on the north coast of Somerset, and to this day still has a steam railway running through the town. This arrangement is inspired by version I used to perfor with the wonderful English fiddler Nicola Beazley. The accompanying tune [On a Winter’s Morn] was composed on one of the coldest winter days in New England.

Lyrics

George Withers sings The Watchet Sailor

As I was a-walking down Watchet Swain Street
A jolly old ship mate I chanced for to meet.
Said I, “Hello sailor and welcome to home;
In season to Watchet I think you have come.”

“You remember once courting a pretty young maid,
Well, you’ve been so long gone now she’s going to be wed.
Well, tomorrow at Bristol the wedding’s to be
And I am invited this thing for to see.”

Jack went a got a licence that very same night.
And he walked up to Bristol as soon as t’was light,
He sat in the Temple church yard for a while
Till he saw the bride coming which caused Jack to smile..

He went and he took that fair maid by the hand,
“You’re going to be married so I understand.
Well if you’re to marry then you must be mine
So I have come here for to baulk your design.”

“Oh alas,” cried the maiden, “now what can I do?
Yes I know I was solemnly promised to you.
But the sailor’s my true love and I’ll be his bride,
There’s none in the world I can fancy beside.”.

Then the sailor he roared like a man who is mad,
“I’m ruined, I’m ruined, I’m ruined.” he said.
Oh you who have sweethearts, get wed while you may
Or else those Jack Tars they will take them away.

Emily Portman sings Watchet Sailor

As I was a-walking down Watchet Swain Street
A jolly old ship mate I chanced for to meet.
I said, “Hello sailor and welcome to home;
In season to Watchet I think you have come.”

“Well, you remember once courting that pretty young maid,
You’ve been so long gone now she’s going to be wed.
And tomorrow at Bristol the wedding’s to be
And I am invited this thing for to see.”

Jack went and got a licence that very same night.
He walked up to Bristol before it was light,
He sat in the Temple church yard for a while
Till he saw the bride coming which caused Jack to smile..

He went and he took this fair maid by the hand,
“You’re going to be married so I understand.
Well if you’re to marry, you must be mine,
And I am come here for to foil your design.”

“Oh alas,” cried the maiden, “what shall I do?
I know I was solemnly promised to you.
But the sailor’s my true love, I’ll be his bride,
There’s none in this world I can fancy beside.”.

When the tailor he roared like a man who is mad,
“I’m ruined, I’m ruined, I’m ruined.” he said.
Come you who have sweethearts, get wed while you may
Or else them Jack Tars they will take them away.

David Milton sings The Watchet Sailor

As I was a walking down Watchet Swain Street,
For a jolly old ship mate I chanced for to meet.
“Hello brother sailor you’re welcome to home,
in season to Watchet I think you are come.”

“Now don’t you remember once courting a maid?
And through your long absence a tailor she’ll wed.
For tomorrow in Bristol the wedding’s to be,
And I’ve been invited for the same to see.”

Now Jack went and got license that very same night,
And walked into Bristol as soon as ’twas light.
He sat in the Temple churchyard for a while
’Till he saw the bride coming which caused Jack to smile.

He went and he took this fair maid by the hand:
“You’re going to be married as I understand,
But if ever you marry then you shall be mine.
That’s why I’ve come here, for to baulk yer design.”

“Dear lord,” said the fair maid, “now what shall I do?
I know I was solemnly promised to you,
But the sailor’s my true love and I’ll be his bride.
There’s none in this world I’d have family beside.”

Now the tailor he roared like a man that’s gone mad:
“I’m ruined, I’m ruined, I’m ruined!” he said.
All you that have sweet hearts take them while you may,
Or else those Jack Tars they will take them away.