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Rolling Sea
Eliza Carthy Lyrics


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Don't ya see the ships a comin'
Don't ya see them in full sail
Don't ya see the ships a'comin
With their prizes at their tail

Oh, my little rolling sailor
Oh, my little rolling he
How I love my rolling sailor
When he's on a rollin' sea

(When he's on a rollin', rollin')
(When he's on a rollin', sea)

Sailors they get all the money
Soldiers they get none but brass
How I love my rolling sailor
Soldiers they can kiss my

Oh, my little rolling sailor
Oh, my little rolling he
How I love my rolling sailor
When he's on the rolling sea

(When he's on a rollin', rollin')
(When he's on a rollin', sea)

How can I be blithe and merry
With my true love far from me
All those pretty little sailors
They've been pressed and ta'en to sea

Oh, my little rolling sailor
Oh, my little rolling he
How I love my rolling sailor
When he's on the rolling sea

(When he's on a rollin', rollin')
(When he's on a rollin', sea)

How I wish the press were over
And the wars were at an end
Then every sailor laddie
Would be happy with his friend

Oh, my little rolling sailor
Oh, my little rolling he
How I love my rolling sailor
When he's on a rolling sea

(When he's on a rollin', rollin')
(When he's on a rollin', sea)

When the wars they are all over
Peace and plenty come again
E'ry bonny sailor laddie
Will come sailing on the main

My little rolling sailor
Oh, my little rolling he
How I love my rolling sailor
When he's on a rolling sea

(When he's on a rollin', rollin')
(When he's on a rollin', sea)

Hope the wars will soon be over
And the sailors, once come home
Every lass will get a laddie
She won't have to sleep alone

My little , oh sailor
Oh, my little rolling he
How I love my rolling sailor
When he's on the rolling' sea

(When he's on a rollin', rollin')
(When he's on a rollin', sea)

Overall Meaning

Eliza Carthy's "Rolling Sea" is a sea shanty song that speaks of love, distance, and the life of a sailor. The first stanza speaks of the arrival of ships, filled with prizes and rewards from their voyages. The second stanza praises the sailors over soldiers for their wealth and their lover's adoration. The third stanza is more somber, talking about the sorrows and fears of having loved ones lost at sea. The fourth stanza hopes for a future where wars and press gang practices cease, bringing sailors back home.


The song's chorus, "Oh, my little rolling sailor, how I love my rolling sailor when he's on a rolling sea," brings a sense of nostalgia and endearment. It portrays the longing for loved ones who are far away, and the anticipation of reuniting with them once they're back home. The song's lyrics reflect the hard life of sailors and the impact it has on their families and loved ones. It's a poignant tribute to the lives of sailors and the sacrifices they make.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't ya see the ships a comin'
Can you see those ships coming towards us?


Don't ya see them in full sail
Can you see how those ships are sailing with all their sails up?


Don't ya see the ships a'comin
Can you see those ships coming closer?


With their prizes at their tail
Those ships are returning with their captured goods.


Oh, my little rolling sailor
My beloved sailor who is always on the move.


Oh, my little rolling he
Oh, my little adventurer.


How I love my rolling sailor
I adore my adventurous sailor.


When he's on a rollin' sea
When he's sailing on the tumultuous ocean.


(When he's on a rollin', rollin')
(When he's sailing on the tumultuous ocean)


(When he's on a rollin', sea)
(When he's on the tumultuous ocean)


Sailors they get all the money
Sailors earn all the wealth.


Soldiers they get none but brass
Soldiers earn nothing but insignia and medals.


Soldiers they can kiss my
I hold no affection for soldiers.


How can I be blithe and merry
How can I be cheerful and happy?


With my true love far from me
My true love is very far from me.


All those pretty little sailors
All those handsome and brave sailors.


They've been pressed and ta'en to sea
They have been forced to go to sea.


How I wish the press were over
I wish the practice of forcibly drafting sailors would end.


And the wars were at an end
I wish the wars would come to a close.


Then every sailor laddie
Then every sailor boy.


Would be happy with his friend
Would be happy with his beloved.


When the wars they are all over
When all wars are over.


Peace and plenty come again
Harmony and abundance return.


E'ry bonny sailor laddie
Every handsome sailor boy.


Will come sailing on the main
Will come sailing on the ocean.


Hope the wars will soon be over
I hope the wars will end soon.


And the sailors, once come home
And the sailors return home.


Every lass will get a laddie
Every girl will have a boy.


She won't have to sleep alone
And she won't have to sleep alone anymore.


My little , oh sailor
My dear sailor.


When he's on the rolling' sea
When he's sailing on the rough and turbulent ocean.


(When he's on a rollin', rollin')
(When he's sailing on the rough and turbulent ocean)


(When he's on a rollin', sea)
(When he's sailing on the rough and turbulent ocean)




Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

giatros giannis

Fucking Super.....................Don?t ya see the ships a?comin?
Don?t ya see them in full sail?
Don?t ya see the ships a?comin
With their prizes at their tail?

Oh, my little rolling sailor
Oh, my little rolling he
How I love my rolling sailor
When he?s on a rollin? sea

(When he?s on a rollin?, rollin?
When he?s on a rollin?, sea.)

Sailors they get all the money
Soldiers they get none but brass
How I love my rolling sailor
Soldiers they can kiss my ?

Oh, my little rolling sailor
Oh, my little rolling he
How I love my rolling sailor
When he?s on the rolling sea

(When he?s on a rollin?, rollin?
When he?s on a rollin?, sea.)



Monica Tusa

<3
Don't ya see the ships a comin'
Don't ya see them in full sail
Don't ya see the ships a'comin
With their prizes at their tail
Oh, my little rolling sailor
Oh, my little rolling he
How I love my rolling sailor
When he's on a rollin' sea
Sailors they get all the money
Soldiers they get none but brass
How I love my rolling sailor
Soldiers they can kiss my
Oh, my little rolling sailor
Oh, my little rolling he
How I love my rolling sailor
When he's on the rolling sea
How can I be blithe and merry
With my true love far from me
All those pretty little sailors
They've been pressed and ta'en to sea
Oh, my little rolling sailor
Oh, my little rolling he
How I love my rolling sailor
When he's on the rolling sea
How I wish the press were over
And the wars were at an end
Then every sailor laddie
Would be happy with his friend
Oh, my little rolling sailor
Oh, my little rolling he
How I love my rolling sailor
When he's on a rolling sea
When the wars they are all over
Peace and plenty come again
E'ry bonny sailor laddie
Will come sailing on the main
My little rolling sailor
Oh, my little rolling he
How I love my rolling sailor
When he's on a rolling sea
Hope the wars will soon be over
And the sailors, once come home
Every lass will get a laddie
She won't have to sleep alone
My little , oh sailor
Oh, my little rolling he
How I love my rolling sailor
When he's on the rolling' sea <3



All comments from YouTube:

fireflyqueen6

I agree with others. Fabulous album that is rich with one glorious song after another. I highly recommend it's purchase!

Helen Cowley

Love this, a great song, traditional & authentic.

billieredsocks

I love this album!

Sea Seidr in Seattle

This is an amazing song!

Michael Igoe

They're absolutely lovely.

James Court

Only heard of eliza carthy 18 months ago. Great singer and musican. Would love 2 go 2 one of her gigs!

mcc11505

Thanks for posting this & allowing comments too. I enjoyed the background info on this great recording.

robchilders

Her voice puts me in mind of Maddy Prior from Steel Eye Span

Joe Weinmunson

In case you're not aware: the singer here is the daughter of two great English musicians, singer Norma Waterson and guitarist/singer Martin Carthy. The two of them performed and recorded with Maddy Prior on occasion.

bertaga41

Well I suppose they're both females.

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