The Handsome Cabin Boy Lyrics & Chords By Martin Carthy

'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."