Lloyd recorded many albums of English folk music, most notably several albums of the Child Ballads with Ewan MacColl. He also published many books on folk music and related topics, including The Singing Englishman, Come All Ye Bold Miners, and Folk Song in England. He was a founder-member of Topic Records and remained as their artistic director until his death. He died at his home in Greenwich in 1982.
While Lloyd is most widely known for his work with British folk music, he had a keen interest in the music of Spain, Latin America, Southeastern Europe and Australia (he recorded at least 6 discs of Australian Bush Ballads and folk music).
Maggie May
A.L. Lloyd Lyrics
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And when you've heard my tale you'll pity me.
For I was a goddamn fool in the port of Liverpool,
The very first time I came home from sea.
Now I've paid off at the Home, from the port of Sierra Leone
Three-pound-ten a month it was my pay.
But I wasted all my tin whilst drinking up the gin
Now well do I remember where I first met Maggie May,
She was cruising up and down in Canning Place,
She was dressed up mighty fine, like a frigate of the line,
So being a ranting sailor I gave chase.
I kept right on her track, she went on the other tack,
But I caught her and I broke her mizzen line.
Next morning I awoke with a head more bent and broke,
No coat, no vest, no trousers could I find.
I asked her where they were, she said, My good kind sir,
They're down at Park Lane pawn shop number nine.
Now, you've had your cake and bun, and it's time for you to run
Or you'll never make the dockside, lad, in time.
To the pawnshop I did go, but no trousers could I find,
And the police came and took that girl away.
And the judge he found her guilty of robbing a homeward-bounder
So now she's doing time in Botany Bay.
Oh Maggie, Maggie May, they've taken you away,
Never more to roam alone down Canning Place
For you robbed too many whalers, and you poxed too many sailors
Now you'll never see old Lime Street anymore.
The lyrics to A.L. Lloyd’s song “Maggie May” tell the story of a young sailor who comes home from sea, goes drinking with a girl named Maggie May, and ends up losing all his money, clothes, and possessions. Maggie May, who is portrayed as a prostitute, leads the sailor on a wild chase through Liverpool, and eventually robs him at a pawnshop. When the sailor tries to retrieve his belongings, he is apprehended by the police and Maggie May is sentenced to Botany Bay. The song emphasizes the dangers and moral decay associated with the port cities of the time, where sailors often fell victim to women like Maggie May.
In addition to the story of the sailor and Maggie May, the lyrics of the song shed light on the harsh realities of life for sailors in the 19th century. The sailor’s low pay and lack of resources are highlighted when he admits to wasting his “tin” on liquor, and the song suggests that he may be looking for some companionship and distraction from the rigors of life at sea. The lyrics about Maggie May illustrate the danger of sailors becoming entangled with women of questionable character, and the consequences that could result from those interactions.
Line by Line Meaning
Now come all you young sailors and listen to my plea
The singer is addressing all sailors with a plea to listen to his tale.
And when you've heard my tale you'll pity me.
The singer believes that after the sailors hear his story, they will feel sorry for him.
For I was a goddamn fool in the port of Liverpool,
The singer admits to being foolish during his time in the port of Liverpool.
The very first time I came home from sea.
The singer is referring to his first time returning home from a voyage.
Now I've paid off at the Home, from the port of Sierra Leone
The singer has been discharged from the ship after arriving at the port in Sierra Leone.
Three-pound-ten a month it was my pay.
The singer is revealing that he earned three pounds and ten shillings each month while working on the ship.
But I wasted all my tin whilst drinking up the gin
The singer spent all his money on drinking gin.
With a little girl whose name was Maggie May.
The singer spent his money on a woman named Maggie May.
Now well do I remember where I first met Maggie May,
The singer recalls where he first met Maggie May.
She was cruising up and down in Canning Place,
Maggie May was walking around Canning Place.
She was dressed up mighty fine, like a frigate of the line,
Maggie May was dressed very nicely.
So being a ranting sailor I gave chase.
The singer chased Maggie May because he was a sailor looking for a woman.
I kept right on her track, she went on the other tack,
The singer followed Maggie May even when she tried to block him.
But I caught her and I broke her mizzen line.
The singer finally caught up to Maggie May and had sex with her.
Next morning I awoke with a head more bent and broke,
The singer woke up with a bad hangover.
No coat, no vest, no trousers could I find.
The singer woke up with missing clothes.
I asked her where they were, she said, My good kind sir,
The singer demanded to know where his clothes were and Maggie May told him where they were pawned.
They're down at Park Lane pawn shop number nine.
Maggie May pawned the singer's clothes.
Now, you've had your cake and bun, and it's time for you to run
Maggie May told the singer that he had enough fun and needed to leave.
Or you'll never make the dockside, lad, in time.
Maggie May warned the singer that he needed to hurry up and leave if he wanted to make it to the dock on time.
To the pawnshop I did go, but no trousers could I find,
The singer went to the pawnshop but his trousers were already sold.
And the police came and took that girl away.
Maggie May was arrested by the police.
And the judge he found her guilty of robbing a homeward-bounder
Maggie May was found guilty of stealing from a sailor.
So now she's doing time in Botany Bay.
Maggie May was sentenced to prison and exiled to Botany Bay in Australia.
Oh Maggie, Maggie May, they've taken you away,
The singer laments the fact that Maggie May was taken away by the authorities.
Never more to roam alone down Canning Place
Maggie May will never be seen again on Canning Place.
For you robbed too many whalers, and you poxed too many sailors
Maggie May was known for stealing from and infecting many sailors.
Now you'll never see old Lime Street anymore.
Maggie May will never be able to return to Lime Street.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Arr: LLOYD, ALBERT LANCASTER, TRAD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind