Jack-A-Roe (Traditional)





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 



She had sweethearts a-plenty

And men of high degree 

There was none but Jack the sailor,

Her true love e'er could be

Oh her true love e'er could be 



Now Jackie's gone a-sailing

With trouble on his mind 

To leave his native country

And his darling girl behind

Oh, his darling girl behind.



She went into a tailor shop

And dressed in men's array 

And stepped on board a vessel

To convey herself away 

Oh, to convey herself away.



"Before you step on board, sir,

Your name I'd like to know" 

She smiled all in her countenance,

"They call me Jackaroe" 

Oh, they call me Jackaroe.



"Your waist is light and slender,

Your fingers are neat and small 

Your cheeks too red and rosy

To face the cannonball" 

Oh, to face the cannon-ball.



"I know my waist is slender,

My fingers neat and small 

But it would not make me tremble

To see ten thousand fall" 

Oh, to see ten thousand fall.



The war soon being over,

They hunted all around

And among the dead and dying

Her darling boy she found 

Oh, her darling boy she found.



She picked him up all in her arms

And carried him to the town 

And sent for a physician who

Quickly healed his wounds 

Oh, who quickly healed his wounds.



This couple they got married

And well they did agree 

This couple they got married,

So why not you and me 

Oh, so why not you and me.