He Called For A Candle Lyrics & Chords By Martin Carthy

He called for a candle to light his way to bed,
And likewise a handkerchief to tie around his head,
To tie around his head like the sailors often do
And he says, "Me pretty fair maid, will you go too?"

And Maggie was a young girl, she thought it was no harm,
She laid her down beside him for to keep his bosom warm.
In the middle of the night when the sailor he grew bold
He throwed into her apron five hundred pounds in gold.

And it was early the next morning when Maggie's mother rose,
Saying, "Daughter, dearest daughter, you have thrown yourself away,
You have thrown yourself away and you've birthed a baby,
And you'll pass for a young girl in a foreign country."

"Oh mother, dearest mother, oh, I've done nothing wrong
For I've gold in me pocket and silver in me purse.
And when me baby's born we will pay the nurse a fee,
And I'll pass for a young girl in a foreign country."

"And if it bes a girl child, she'll stay at home with me,
And if it bes a boy he will plough the dark blue sea.
He'll plough the dark blue sea like his daddy done before
And he'll skip about the deck like a young sailor boy."

"And it is God bless the ocean that my love sails upon
And likewise the bonny ship that carries him along.
I'll write me love a letter and I'll seal it with a ring
And I never will be happy till me love returns again."