MAID ON THE SHORE

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In this folk song, a young woman is taken on board a ship against her will, but tricks the sailors by singing them to sleep and then robs them blind! This arrangement is suitable for very advanced choirs that are up for rhythmic challenges. Listen to this quality recording by the Lady Cove Women’s Choir

LYRICS

T’was of the young maiden who lived all alone
She lived all alone on the shore-o
There was nothing she could find to comfort her mind
But to roam all alone on the shore shore shore
But to roam all alone on the shore

T’was of the young captain who sailed the salt sea
Let the wind blow high blow low-o
I will die I will die the young captain did cry
If I don’t have that maid on the shore shore shore
If I don’t have that maid on the shore

I have lots of silver I have lots of gold
I have lots of costly fare-o
I’ll divide I’ll divide with my jolly ship’s crew
If they row me that maid on the shore shore shore
If they row me that maid on the shore

By subtle persuasion they got her aboard
Let the wind blow high blow low-o
And he placed her away in his cabin below
Here’s adieu to all sorrow and care care care
Here’s adieu to all sorrow and care

She sat herself down in his cabin below
Let the wind blow high blow low-o
Where she sang so soft and complete
She sang captain and sailors asleep sleep sleep
She sang captain and sailors to sleep

She robbed him of silver she robbed him of gold
She robbed him of costly fare-o
Then took his broadsword instead of an oar
And paddled her way to the shore shore shore
And paddled her way to the shore

Well me men must be crazy my men must be mad
My men must deep in despair-o
For to let you away with your beauty so gay
And to paddle your way to the shore shore shore
And to paddle your way to the shore

I deluded your sailors as well as yourself
I’m a maiden again on the shore shore shore