A graduate of the University of Virginia, where he earned a master's degree in Folklore, Clayton specialized in traditional music, primarily New England sea shanties and ballads as well as Appalachian songs. He became interested in the first of these as a youngster and began playing guitar as a teen. While attending college, he expanded his interests to include the music of Virginia and the surrounding states. Within a short time after leaving college, he began recording. His first releases were for a small specialty record company, but in 1956 he joined Folkways Records, the day's leading folk music label. He recorded six solo albums for Folkways from 1956 to 1958, issued albums for a few specialty labels, moved to another prominent folk label, Elektra Records, for two albums in 1958–59, and collaborated with artists such as Jean Ritchie and Dave Van Ronk on other releases. He made his last recording in 1965.
As much a scholar as a musician, Clayton began collecting songs at a young age in his hometown of New Bedford, Massachusetts. At the university, he studied under a professor who was a leading folklorist. Soon he was combing the hills and valleys of Virginia and surrounding states for songs that formed the region's musical heritage. In making field recordings, he "discovered" Etta Baker and Hobart Smith, homespun musicians who have come to be regarded as all-time greats.
Clayton became a prominent figure in the Greenwich Village folk scene in New York City during the early 1960s. He was close with artists such as Dave Van Ronk and Liam Clancy and was also a mentor and friend of Bob Dylan during the first years of Dylan's career. A song Clayton wrote was allegedly "borrowed" by Dylan in 1962 as the basis for one of his most famous tunes, "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right". The resulting lawsuits by their record companies were settled out of court, and the two remained friends for several years afterwards.
Clayton was beset with personal problems in his mid-30s, including frustrations with his career, doubts arising from his homosexuality, manic depression, drug abuse, and a related arrest. He committed suicide in 1967.
The Maid of Amsterdam
Paul Clayton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Traditional - Lyrics as sung by Paul Clayton on Whaling And Sailing Songs
In Amsterdam there lived a maid,
Mark well what I do say!
In Amsterdam there lived a maid,
Who was always pinchin' the sailor's trade.
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
I took this maiden for a walk,
Mark well what I do say!
I took this maiden for a walk,
She wanted some gin and didn't she talk.
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
She said, "You sailors I love you so,"
Mark well what I do say!
"All you sailors, I love you so,"
And the reason why I soon did know.
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
She placed her hand upon my knee,
Mark well what I do say!
She placed her hand upon my knee,
I said "Young miss, you're rather free."
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
I gave this miss a parting kiss,
Mark well what I do say!
I gave this miss a parting kiss,
When I got aboard my money I missed.
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
The Maid of Amsterdam is a traditional song about a sailor's encounter with a woman in Amsterdam. The lyrics narrate the story of how the sailor meets this woman and is initially enamored by her. However, as the encounter progresses, he realizes that she is only interested in taking advantage of his generous nature and stealing from him. The chorus - "I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!" - repeatedly emphasizes his decision to not continue the relationship with her.
The song is a commentary on the sailor lifestyle and the dangers and pitfalls of mixing with people who are only interested in taking advantage of them. The maid is portrayed as a manipulative woman who only seeks to benefit from the sailors' money and generosity. The lyrics convey a sense of caution to sailors, warning them to be mindful of people who might try to exploit their vulnerability.
Overall, The Maid of Amsterdam is a cautionary tale of how sailors must be wary of those who seem too good to be true. It tells the story of how a sailor falls prey to the charms of a woman only to regret it later. The repetitive chorus underscores the sailor's resolve to stay true to his convictions and avoid being taken advantage of again.
Line by Line Meaning
In Amsterdam there lived a maid, Mark well what I do say!
There was a maid in Amsterdam, pay attention to what I'm saying!
In Amsterdam there lived a maid, Who was always pinchin' the sailor's trade.
She would always steal from sailors.
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
I won't go roving with you anymore.
A rovin', a rovin', Since rovin's been my ru-i-in, I'll go no more a roving, With you fair maid!
I used to like roving, but it's ruined me, so I won't do it with you anymore.
I took this maiden for a walk, Mark well what I do say!
I went for a walk with this maiden, listen to me!
She wanted some gin and didn't she talk.
She talked a lot and wanted gin.
She said, "You sailors I love you so," Mark well what I do say!
She told me she loved sailors, pay attention!
"All you sailors, I love you so," And the reason why I soon did know.
I quickly learned why she loved sailors.
She placed her hand upon my knee, Mark well what I do say!
She put her hand on my knee, listen to me!
I said "Young miss, you're rather free."
I told her she was too forward.
I gave this miss a parting kiss, Mark well what I do say!
I gave her a goodbye kiss, pay attention!
When I got aboard my money I missed.
When I got on the ship, I realized my money was gone.
Contributed by Jasmine T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Carsmansanti
In Amsterdam there lived a maid,
Mark well what I do say!
In Amsterdam there lived a maid,
Who was always pinchin' the sailor's trade.
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
I took this maiden for a walk,
Mark well what I do say!
I took this maiden for a walk,
She wanted some gin and didn't she talk.
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
She said, "You sailors I love you so,"
Mark well what I do say!
"All you sailors, I love you so,"
And the reason why I soon did know.
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
She placed her hand upon my knee,
Mark well what I do say!
She placed her hand upon my knee,
I said "Young miss, you're rather free."
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
I gave this miss a parting kiss,
Mark well what I do say!
I gave this miss a parting kiss,
When I got aboard my money I missed.
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
MrPisster
someone should adapt this to a military cadence to articulate the joy of getting out or restationed.
since I joined up here I did hate
mark well what I do say
since I got here I did hate
what I have done here every day
I'll go no more a rovin with you brigade
a rovin' a rovin' this rovin's been my ru-i-en
I'll go no more a ro-oh-oh-vin with this brigade.
Carsmansanti
In Amsterdam there lived a maid,
Mark well what I do say!
In Amsterdam there lived a maid,
Who was always pinchin' the sailor's trade.
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
I took this maiden for a walk,
Mark well what I do say!
I took this maiden for a walk,
She wanted some gin and didn't she talk.
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
She said, "You sailors I love you so,"
Mark well what I do say!
"All you sailors, I love you so,"
And the reason why I soon did know.
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
She placed her hand upon my knee,
Mark well what I do say!
She placed her hand upon my knee,
I said "Young miss, you're rather free."
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
I gave this miss a parting kiss,
Mark well what I do say!
I gave this miss a parting kiss,
When I got aboard my money I missed.
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
Umut Kursawe
This might be my first solo in my choir... I NEED TO NAIL THIS
AM 1997
Such an unsung talent, so handsome, so intelligent. RIP Paul!
TheStarblaster
Awesome
Diogenes1360
Happy New Year !!! 2011......
Nima Conquistador
Happy New year 2021
MrPisster
someone should adapt this to a military cadence to articulate the joy of getting out or restationed.
since I joined up here I did hate
mark well what I do say
since I got here I did hate
what I have done here every day
I'll go no more a rovin with you brigade
a rovin' a rovin' this rovin's been my ru-i-en
I'll go no more a ro-oh-oh-vin with this brigade.
Diogenes1360
Still here at 2012!!! Hahahahahahaa . . . . . .
Diogenes1360
In like Flynn! Errol that is!
brnghkmrs
2018 boys