The Handsome Cabin Boy

'Tis of a pretty female as you shall understand

Her mind was set on roving into some foreign land

Attired in sailor's clothing she boldly did appear

And engaged with a captain to serve him for one year

She engaged with the captain a cabin boy to be

The wind stood fine and clearly and so they put to sea

The captain's lady being on board, she seemed for to enjoy

So glad that the captain had engaged with a handsome cabin boy

Now so nimble was this pretty maid, she did her duty well

But mark what follows after, the song it soon will tell

By eating of the captain's biscuits her colour did destroy

And the waist did swell of pretty Nell, the handsome cabin boy

Now as through the Bay of Biscay our gallant ship did plough

One night among the sailors there was a pretty row

They bundled from their hammocks which did their rest destroy

They swore about the groaning of the handsome cabin boy

"Oh doctor, oh doctor," the cabin boy did cry

The sailors swore by all and one the cabin boy would die

The doctor ran with all his might, a-smiling at the fun

To think that a sailor lad could have a daughter or a son

Now when the sailors all heard the joke, they all began to stare

The child belonged to none of them, they solemnly declared

The lady to the captain said, "My lad, I wish you joy

For it's either you or I betrayed the handsome cabin boy."