"Jackaro" lyrics - PETE SEEGER

PETE SEEGER
"Jackaro"

There was a wealthy merchant, in London he did dwell
He had a lovely daughter, the truth to you I'll tell
Oh, the truth to you I'll tell

Her sweethearts they were plentiful, she courted day and night
Until on Jackie Fraser she placed her heart's delight
Oh, she placed her heart's delight

"Oh daughter dearest daughter, your body I'll confine
If none but Jack the sailor can ever suit your mind
Oh, can ever suit your mind"

"This body you may 'prison, my heart you can't confine
There's none but Jackie Fraser shall have this heart o' mine
Oh, shall have this heart o' mine"

Her parents saw him comin', they flew in an angry way
They gave him forty shillings to bear him far away
Oh, to bear him far away

He sailed across the ocean, across the deep blue sea
Till safely he was landed in the wars of Germany
Oh, the wars of Germany

She went down to a tailor shop, she dressed in men's array
She laboured for the captain to bear her far away
Oh, to bear her far away

"Before you step on board, sir, your name I'd like to know"
She smiled all in her countenance, "They call me Jackaro
Oh, they call me Jackaro"

"Your waist is far too slender, your fingers they are small
Your cheeks too red and rosy to face the cannonball
Oh, to face the cannonball"

"I know my waist is slender, my fingers they are small,
But I would not change my countenance to see ten thousand fall
Oh, to see ten thousand fall"

She sailed across the ocean, across the deep blue sea
Till safely she was landed in the wars of Germany
Oh, the wars of Germany

She went out to the battlefield, she viewed it up and down
Among the dead and dying, her darling boy she found
Oh, her darling boy she found

She picked him up most tenderly, she carried him to the town
She sent for a physician to cure up all his wounds
Oh, to cure up all his wounds

This couple now are married, so well did they agree,
This couple now are married, so why not you and me?
Oh, so why not you and me?