Digital Tradition Mirror

Jackaroe

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Jackaroe

There was a wealthy merchant, in London he did dwell
He had a lovely daughter, the truth to you I'll tell
Oh the truth to you I'll tell

She had sweethearts a-plenty and men of high degree
There was none but Jack the sailor, her true love e'er could be
Oh her true love e'er could be

Now Jackie's gone a-sailing with trouble on his mind
To leave his native country and his darling girl behind ...

She went into a tailor shop and dressed in men's array
And stepped on board a vessel to convey herself away

"Before you step on board, sir, your name I'd like to know"
She smiled all in her countenance, "They call me Jackaroe"

"Your waist is light and slender, your fingers are neat and small
Your cheeks too red and rosy to face the cannonball"

"I know my waist is slender, my fingers neat and small
But it would not make me tremble to see ten thousand fall"

The war soon being over, they hunted all around
And among the dead and dying her darling boy she found

She picked him up all in her arms and carried him to the town
And sent for a physician who quickly healed his wounds

This couple they got married and well they did agree
This couple they got married, so why not you and me

DT #331
Laws N7
recorded by Joan Baez
SOF

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!