My Jolly Sailor Bold
Ashley Serena Lyrics


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Upon one summer′s morning, I carefully did stray
Down by the Walls of Wapping, where I met a sailor gay
Conversing with a bouncing lass, who seemed to be in pain
Saying William, when you go, I fear you will never return again

My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold

His hair it hangs in ringlets, his eyes as black as coal
My happiness attend him wherever he may go
From Tower Hill to Blackwall, I'll wander, weep and moan
All for my jolly sailor, until he sails home

My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold

My name it is Maria, a merchant′s daughter fair
And I have left my parents and three thousand pounds a year
Come all you pretty fair maids, whoever you may be
Who love a jolly sailor that ploughs the raging sea
While up aloft in storm, from me his absence mourn
And firmly pray, arrive the day, he's never more to roam

My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold

My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold




There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold

Overall Meaning

The song "My Jolly Sailor Bold" begins with the singer wandering around Wapping on a summer morning when she meets a sailor talking to a woman who seems to be in pain. The singer overhears the woman, who is named Maria, talking to the sailor, William, telling him that she fears he will never return from sea. Maria sings about her love for William, saying that her heart is pierced by Cupid and that she disdains all glittering gold, indicating that her love and loyalty to William matter more than material wealth.


The next verse describes William's appearance, stating that he has black eyes and hair that hangs in ringlets. Maria declares that she will follow William wherever he goes, even wandering and moaning from Tower Hill to Blackwall until he returns. The final verse introduces Maria as the daughter of a merchant who has left her family and fortune to be with William. Maria ends the song by encouraging other women who love sailors to pray for their safe return from the dangers of the sea.


Line by Line Meaning

Upon one summer's morning, I carefully did stray
I went for a walk one morning with intention and care.


Down by the Walls of Wapping, where I met a sailor gay
I found myself in the area near the Wapping walls and met a happy sailor.


Conversing with a bouncing lass, who seemed to be in pain
He was talking with a young woman who appeared to be in some kind of distress.


Saying William, when you go, I fear you will never return again
She was afraid that the sailor named William would not return from his travels.


My heart is pierced by Cupid
I am deeply in love.


I disdain all glittering gold
Money and riches do not interest me.


There is nothing can console me
I cannot be comforted.


But my jolly sailor bold
Except by the return of my joyful sailor.


His hair it hangs in ringlets, his eyes as black as coal
He has curly hair and dark eyes.


My happiness attend him wherever he may go
I wish him well and hope he is happy wherever he travels.


From Tower Hill to Blackwall, I'll wander, weep, and moan
I will wander around the Tower Hill and Blackwall areas, crying and feeling sad.


All for my jolly sailor, until he sails home
This is all because I am waiting for my happy sailor to return.


My name it is Maria, a merchant's daughter fair
My name is Maria, and I am the daughter of a wealthy merchant.


And I have left my parents and three thousand pounds a year
I have abandoned my wealthy family, including an annual allowance of 3000 pounds.


Come all you pretty fair maids, whoever you may be
All young, pretty women, no matter who you are or where you come from.


Who love a jolly sailor that ploughs the raging sea
If you love a happy sailor who travels the rough seas.


While up aloft in storm, from me his absence mourn
When he is up high during a storm, I mourn his absence.


And firmly pray, arrive the day, he's never more to roam
I pray that the day will come when he never has to leave again.




Contributed by Muhammad F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@ivnksk

Lyrics
Upon one summer's morning, I carefully did stray
Down by the Walls of Wapping, where I met a sailor gay
Conversing with a bouncing lass, who seemed to be in pain
Saying William, when you go, I fear you will never return again

My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold

His hair it hangs in ringlets, his eyes as black as coal
My happiness attend him wherever he may go
From Tower Hill to Blackwall, I'll wander, weep and moan
All for my jolly sailor, until he sails home

My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold

My name it is Maria, a merchant's daughter fair
And I have left my parents and three thousand pounds a year
Come all you pretty fair maids, whoever you may be
Who love a jolly sailor that ploughs the raging sea
While up aloft in storm, from me his absence mourn
And firmly pray, arrive the day, he's never more to roam

My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold

My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold



@alexisfernandes2621

Lyrics:
Upon one summer's morning
I carefully did stray
Down by the Walls of Wapping
Where I met a sailor gay

Conversing with a young lass
Who seem'd to be in pain
Saying: William, when you go
I fear you'll ne'er return again

My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold

His hair, it hangs in ringlets
His eyes as black as coal
My happiness attend him
Wherever he may go

From Tower Hill to Blackwall
I'll wander, weep and moan
All for my jolly sailor
Until he sails home

My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold

My father is a merchant
The truth I now will tell
And in great London city
In opulence doth dwell

His fortune doth exceed
300,000 gold
And he frowns upon his daughter
Who loves a sailor bold

A fig for his riches
His merchandise and gold
True love has grafted my heart
Give me my sailor bold
My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold

Should he return in pov'rty
From o'er the ocean far
To my tender bosom
I'll press my jolly tar

My sailor is as smiling
As the pleasant month of May
And often we have wandered
Through Ratcliffe highway

Many a pretty blooming
Young girl, we did behold
Reclining on the bosom
Of her jolly sailor bold

My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold

My name, it is Maria
A merchant's daughter fair
And I have left my parents
And three thousand pounds a year

Come all you pretty fair maids
Whoever you may be
Who love a jolly sailor
That plows the raging sea

While up aloft in storm
From me his absence mourn
And firmly pray arrive the day
He's never more to roam

My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold

My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold



All comments from YouTube:

@genericname108

Just to clarify, for people who didn't know "gay" used to mean happy/glad or...we'll jolly.

@taliyah8400

Oh

@adventuresofpyro9020

@Blazeest yea and then times changed and they use it as a derogatory term now. Fag used to mean a cigarette too. Same thing happened to it..

@andrewmalinowski6673

@CasperDaPyro As far as I know it still is in England/British territories, or at least used as a slang term

@adventuresofpyro9020

@Andrew Malinowski ah ok. Well here in the US it is not. They are used as derogatory terms.

@andrewmalinowski6673

@CasperDaPyro I never said it wasn't, but to be clear it's a difference in American and British terms like describing a bus. There are currently more definitions of that one word after different generations each used it

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@daviedood2503

Imagine a Disney Ariel who sang like this. Then Ursula takes the golden voice...

@dominicstarr3065

OHHHH
You sir have a BRILLIANT Mind

@daviedood2503

@Dominic Starr I hope youre not a chick...I'm 39 and I said to myself 20 years ago whatever woman tells me "You have a beautiful Mind David" that'll be my sign to marry her... just saying...

@cutienugget77

@Davie Dood you have a beautiful mind David! You are so right!

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