A Braw Young Sailor Lad

A Braw Young Sailor Lad

On Springthyme SPRCD 1038
Jane Turriff - Singin is Ma Life

Sung by Jane Turriff:

This courtship song may have its roots in the classic question and answer ballads, in which a vulnerable protagonist outmanoeuvres a stronger foe through wit or craft. Peter Shepheard has collected a version from Fife traveller Mary Reid which features the couplet, "I would not range thon merry green woods, Or a maid return again," clearly echoing the dia-
logue of The Broomfield Hill. Jane's invitation verses appear in Oh the Rose in Gavin Greig's Folk Songs of the North East (article 50), which also contains borrowings from other classic ballads. Jane got her version from her mother Christina, and another rendition may be found on North East Tradition I: New recordings from the North East Folklore Archive.

1: "I'm jist a bras young sailor lad
I'm new cam fae the sea;
So wee lassie, lay doom yer milkin pails
An come awa wi me."

2: "I'll nae lay doon my milkin pails
An gang awa wi you;
I'll nae lay doon ma milkin pails
For aa the lads I see."

3: "It's would ye walk than green, green grass
An come awa wi me;
Or would ye walk the green, green woods,
My dear wee darlin Jane?"

4 "O I'll nae walk than green, green grass
An gang awa wi you;
An I'll nae walk the green, green woods,
For I'd raither lie ma lane."

5: "But I can wash a sailor's sark,
An I can wash it clean;
For I can wash a sailor's sark
An bleach it on yon green."

6: "So maybe I'll get marriet yet,
An maybe nee ava;
Oh maybe I'll get marriet yet
Tae a lass that's far awa."

7: "So fare-ye-well my own true love,
This partin brings me pain;
Oh fare-ye-well my ain true love,
My ain wee darlin Jane."

Recorded by Ailie Munro and Tom Atkinson, School of Scottish Studies, Edinburgh, 1975.