Lyrics Fair Maid On The Shore - Dave Swarbrick , Martin Carthy

Oh it's of the sea captain who sailed the salt sea
And the moon it shone gentle and clear oh
I will die, I will die, the captain did cry
If I can't have that maiden who walks on the shore
If I can't have that maid on the shore

So the sailors all got them a very long boat
And it's off for the shore they did steer oh
Saying, ma'am if you please, will you enter on board
To view a fine cargo of costly ware
To view a fine cargo of ware

Now it's with much persuasion they got her on board
And the moon it shone gentle and clear oh
And she sat herself down in the stern of the boat
And off for the ship the bold sailors did steer
And it's off for the ship they did steer

And when they've arrived alongside of the ship
Oh the captain he spat out his chew oh
Saying, first you will lie in my arms all this night
And then I'll hand you to me jolly old crew
Then I'll hand you right back to me crew

Oh thank you, oh thank you, this young girl she cried
Oh that's just what I've been awaiting for
For I'd grown so weary of my maidenhead
As I walked all alone on the rocky old shore
As I walked all alone on the shore

So she sat herself down in the stern of the ship
How the moon it shone gentle and clear oh
And she sung so neat, genteel and complete
She sung sailors and captain right off to sleep
She sung sailors and captain to sleep

And she's robbed them of silver, she's robbed them of gold
And she's plundered their bright costly ware oh
And the captain's bright sword she's took for an oar
And she's paddled right back to that rocky old shore
And she's paddled right back to the shore

Oh were me men drunk, or were me men mad
Or were they sunk deep in despair oh
That they let her away with her beauty so gay
And now she's a maiden once more on the shore
She's a maiden once more on the shore

No your men were not drunk and your men were not mad
Nor were they sunk deep in despair oh
But I deluded your crew and likewise yourself too
And again I'm a maid on the rocky old shore
And again I'm a maid on the shore