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American Ballads and Folk Songs
The first time I went to Frisco, I went upon a spree. My money at last I spent it fast, got drunk as drunk could be j I was fully inclined, made up my mind, to go to sea no more! That night I slept with Angeline, too drunk for to turn in bed.
My clothes was new, and my money was tooj Next morning with them she fled!
And as daily I walked the streets around you'd hear the people roar, "Oh, there goes Jack Wrack! Poor sailor lad, he must go to sea once more!"
The first one that I came to was a son-of-a-gun called Brown. I asked him for to take me in; he looked on me with a frown. He says, "Last time you were paid off, with me you chalked no score, But I'll take your advance and I'll give you a chance to go to sea once more!"
He shipped me on board of a whaler, bound for the Arctic seas. The wintry wind from the west-nor'west Jamaica rum would freeze! With a twenty-foot oar in each man's hand we pulled the livelong day j It was then I swore when once on shore I'd go to sea no more!
Come all you young seafaring men that's listening to my song!
I hope in what I've said to you that there is nothing wrong.
Take my advice and don't drink strong drinks, or go sleeping on
the shore, But get married, my boys, and have all night in, and go to sea no more!
THE BOSTON COME-ALL-YE *
OR
THE FISHES
"We have the testimony of Kipling in Captains Courageous that it was a favorite within recent years of the Banks fishermen."
•From Joanna Colcord's Roll and Go (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Co.).'
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