The Silk Merchant’s Daughter

As I walked down Fourth Street
A jolly young sailor I chanced for to see
I said, "Brother sailor, oh where are you bound?"
"I'm bound for New London or some other rich town"

Our ship being rigged and ready to sail
We drew up the anchor and we drew up the sail
For six months we sailed, all hearts were content
Then the ship sprang a leak and to the bottom it sank

Forty-four of us sailors got in a life boat
Way out on the ocean, all alone there did float
Provisions grew scarce and death it drew nigh
We each drew our number for to see which would die

These names being written and put in a hat
We each drew our number, yes we each drew our lot
And amongst all them sailors, this young damsel drew less
She was to be killed by the one she loved best

"Before I would kill you, my heart it would burst
Before I would kill you, my love, I'd die first"
"Oh, stop" said the captain, "hold on now, you men:
Not but very few people who would die for a friend"

But their knives being sharpened, there's murdering to do
When "stop," said this lady, "for a moment or two"
"Oh, stop," said this lady, "hold on to your tongues
I hear ship a-coming by her loud roaring guns"

In the space of a moment they all looked again
They saw ship a-coming for to take them all in
Straightways to New London this ship was conveyed
Straightways to get married with this young man and me