Patrick Spencer (Bob Coltman) Don't the moon look pretty? She sails like a ship in the sky Darling, you don't know nothing 'bout sailing; she's got a cast in her eye For when the moon weeps silvery tears, you can look for a terrible storm God pity the sailor who's out tomorrow; I'm glad I can bide at home Well, if you be Patrick Spencer, which man you better had be I've a letter from the king commands you to go to sea It's little he cares for the danger as he drinks his wine with song His daughter in far Norway is sick and she wants to come home Well, he might have sent me greetings; he might have cast me in chains He might have asked a hundred favors, I'm sure I'd never complain But this running up of the rigging with a hurricane on the wing Well, it's come to a matter of life or death, to hie to pleasure the king Standing out to sea, good Lord, it began to rain The waves like mighty mountains and the wind like a thing in pain Patrick Spencer took his glass and he's placed it in Johnny's hand Says, Run up, Johnny, high as you can, and see if you see any land No land, Patrick Spencer, nor ever a sign of shore Give it over, boys, he cried, you'll never see home any more Forget about your buckled shoes; you'll wet more than your feet And as for the letter from the king, it's a damn small winding sheet Christine will be a long, long time a-waiting for me to come home And the cruel cold sea be a long, dark time a-walking over my bones That man that told the king of me, I'd like to have him here And the very last wish that I'd like to have is to take him under with me Don't the moon look pretty? She sails like a ship in the sky Darling, you don't know nothing 'bout sailing; she's got a cast in her eye For when the moon weeps silvery tears, you can look for a terrible storm God pity the sailor who's out tomorrow; I'm glad I can bide at home Child #58 Recorded by Coltman on Son of Child JN
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!