The Silk Merchant's Daughter

As I walked down Fourth Street

A jolly young sailor I chanced for to see

I said, "Brother sailor, oh where are you bound?"

"I'm bound for New London or some other rich town"

Our ship being rigged and ready to sail

We drew up the anchor and we drew up the sail

For six months we sailed, all hearts were content

Then the ship sprang a leak and to the bottom it sank

Forty-four of us sailors got in a lifeboat

Way out on the ocean all alone there did float

Provisions grew scarce and death it drew nigh

We each drew our number for to see which would die

These names being written and put in a hat

We each drew our number, yes, we each drew our lot

In amongst all them sailors, this young damsel drew last

She was to be killed by the one she loved best

"Before I would kill you, my heart it would burst

Before I would kill you, my love I'd die first"

"Oh stop," said the captain, "Hold on now, you men

Not but very few people who would die for a friend"

But their knives being sharpened, there's murdering to do

When "Stop," said this lady, "For a moment or two"

"Oh stop," said this lady, "Hold on to your tongues

I hear a ship a-coming, by her loud roaring guns"

In the space of a moment, they all looked again

They saw a ship a-coming for to take them all in

Straight ways to New London, this ship was conveyed

Straight ways to get married with this young man and maid