The Handsome Cabin Boy
A Seafaring Tale of Disguise and Revelations
Lyrics
It's of a pretty female as you may understand,
Introduction of a female with a desire for adventure.
Her mind being bent for rambling into some foreign land.
Her intention to travel to a foreign land.
She dressed herself in sailor's clothes or so it does appear,
She disguises herself as a sailor.
And she hired with a captain to serve him for a year.
She signs up with a captain to serve for a year.
The captain's wife she being on board, she seemed in great joy
The captain's wife is happy about the handsome cabin boy.
To think her husband had engaged such a handsome cabin boy.
She is pleased with the choice and finds joy in it.
And now and then she slipped him a kiss, and she would have liked to toy,
She flirts with the cabin boy, but the captain discovers the truth.
But it was the captain found out the secret of the handsome cabin boy.
The captain finds out about the cabin boy's true identity.
Her cheeks they were like roses and her hair all in a curl,
Description of the cabin boy's rosy cheeks and curly hair.
The sailors often smiled and said, he looks just like a girl.
Sailors notice the boy's feminine appearance.
But eating of the captain's biscuit her colour did destroy
The boy's health deteriorates from eating the captain's food.
And the waist did swell of pretty Nell, the handsome cabin boy.
Nell's waist swells, indicating pregnancy.
it was in the Bay of Biscay our gallant ship did plough.
Setting of the story in the Bay of Biscay.
One night among the sailors was a fearful flurryin' row.
A disturbance among sailors in the night.
They tumbled from their hammocks for their sleep it did destroy
They wake up due to a commotion, blaming the cabin boy.
And they swore about the groaning of the handsome cabin boy.
Swearing about the noises made by the cabin boy.
“Oh doctor dear, oh doctor,” the cabin boy did cry,
The cabin boy declares his impending death to the doctor.
“Me time has come, I am undone and I shall surely die.”
Expressing distress and anticipation of death.
The doctor came a-running and smiling at the fun,
The doctor finds amusement in the situation.
To think a sailor lad should have a daughter or a son.
Surprise at the cabin boy being pregnant.
The sailors when they saw the joke, they all did stand and stare.
Sailors are astonished at the revelation.
The child belong to none of them, they solemnly did swear.
They deny paternity of the child.
And the captain's wife she says to him, “My dear I wish you joy,
The captain's wife tells the captain about the situation.
For it's either you or I betrayed the handsome cabin boy.”
The captain and his wife discuss the betrayal.
So each man took his drop of rum and he drunk success to trade,
Sailors toast to success and the ambiguous cabin boy.
And likewise to the cabin boy who was neither man nor maid.
Wishing well for the cabin boy who is neither man nor maid.
It's hoping the wars don't rise again, us sailors to destroy,
Hoping for peace to avoid harm to sailors in future wars.
And here's hoping for a jolly lot more like the handsome cabin boy.
Expressing hope for more characters like the handsome cabin boy.
Comment