The Bab Ballads With which are included Songs of a Savoyard: By W. S. Gilbert: With 350 illustrations by the author |
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JOE GOLIGHTLY OR, THE FIRST LORD'S DAUGHTER |
 | The Bab Ballads |  |
528
JOE GOLIGHTLY OR, THE FIRST LORD'S DAUGHTER
A tar, but poorly prized,
Long, shambling, and unsightly,
Thrashed, bullied, and despised,
Was wretched Joe Golightly.
Long, shambling, and unsightly,
Thrashed, bullied, and despised,
Was wretched Joe Golightly.
He bore a workhouse brand;
No Pa or Ma had claimed him,
The Beadle found him, and
The Board of Guardians named him.
No Pa or Ma had claimed him,
The Beadle found him, and
The Board of Guardians named him.
P'r'aps some Princess's son—
A beggar p'r'aps his mother.
He rather thought the one,
I rather think the other.
A beggar p'r'aps his mother.
He rather thought the one,
I rather think the other.
529
He liked his ship at sea,
He loved the salt sea-water,
He worshipped junk, and he
Adored the First Lord's daughter.
He loved the salt sea-water,
He worshipped junk, and he
Adored the First Lord's daughter.
The First Lord's daughter, proud,
Snubbed Earls and Viscounts nightly
She sneered at Barts. aloud,
And spurned poor Joe Golightly.
Snubbed Earls and Viscounts nightly
She sneered at Barts. aloud,
And spurned poor Joe Golightly.
Whene'er he sailed afar
Upon a Channel cruise, he
Unpacked his light guitar
And sang this ballad (Boosey):
Upon a Channel cruise, he
Unpacked his light guitar
And sang this ballad (Boosey):
Ballad.
The moon is on the sea,
Willow!
The wind blows towards the lee,
Willow!
But though I sigh and sob and cry,
No Lady Iane for me,
Willow!
Willow!
The wind blows towards the lee,
Willow!
But though I sigh and sob and cry,
No Lady Iane for me,
Willow!
She says, “'Twere folly quite,
Willow!
For me to wed a wight,
Willow!
Whose lot is cast before the mas
And possibly she's right,
Willow!
Willow!
For me to wed a wight,
Willow!
Whose lot is cast before the mas
And possibly she's right,
Willow!
His skipper (Captain Joyce),
He gave him many a rating,
And almost lost his voice
From thus expostulating:
He gave him many a rating,
And almost lost his voice
From thus expostulating:
530
“Lay aft, you lubber, do!
What's come to that young man, Joe?
Belay!—'vast heaving! you!
Do kindly stop that banjo!
What's come to that young man, Joe?
Belay!—'vast heaving! you!
Do kindly stop that banjo!
“I wish, I do—O lor'!—
You'd shipped aboard a trader:
Are you a sailor or
A negro serenader?”
You'd shipped aboard a trader:
Are you a sailor or
A negro serenader?”
But still the stricken cad,
Aloft or on his pillow,
Howled forth in accents sad
His aggravating “Willow!”
Aloft or on his pillow,
Howled forth in accents sad
His aggravating “Willow!”
Stern love of duty had
Been Joyce's chiefest beauty;
Says he, “I love that lad,
But duty, damme! duty!
Been Joyce's chiefest beauty;
Says he, “I love that lad,
But duty, damme! duty!
“Twelve months' black-hole, I say,
Where daylight never flashes;
And always twice a day
A good six dozen lashes!”
Where daylight never flashes;
And always twice a day
A good six dozen lashes!”
531
But Joseph had a mate,
A sailor stout and lusty,
A man of low estate,
But singularly trusty.
A sailor stout and lusty,
A man of low estate,
But singularly trusty.
Says he, “Cheer hup, young Joe!
I'll tell you what I'm arter—
To that Fust Lord I'll go
And ax him for his darter.
I'll tell you what I'm arter—
To that Fust Lord I'll go
And ax him for his darter.
“To that Fust Lord I'll go
And say you love her dearly.”
And Joe said (weeping low),
“I wish you would, sincerely!”
And say you love her dearly.”
And Joe said (weeping low),
“I wish you would, sincerely!”
That sailor to that Lord
Went, soon as he had landed,
And of his own accord
An interview demanded.
Went, soon as he had landed,
And of his own accord
An interview demanded.
532
Says he, with seaman's roll,
“My Captain (wot's a Tartar)
Guv Joe twelve months' black-hole,
For lovering your darter.
“My Captain (wot's a Tartar)
Guv Joe twelve months' black-hole,
For lovering your darter.
“He loves Miss Lady Jane
(I own she is his betters),
But if you'll jine them twain,
They'll free him from his fetters.
(I own she is his betters),
But if you'll jine them twain,
They'll free him from his fetters.
“And if so be as how
You'll let her come aboard ship,
I'll take her with me now.”
“Get out!” remarked his Lordship.
You'll let her come aboard ship,
I'll take her with me now.”
“Get out!” remarked his Lordship.
That honest tar repaired
To Joe upon the billow,
And told him how he'd fared.
Joe only whispered, “Willow!’
To Joe upon the billow,
And told him how he'd fared.
Joe only whispered, “Willow!’
533
And for that dreadful crime
(Young sailors, learn to shun it)
He's working out his time;
In six months he'll have done it.
(Young sailors, learn to shun it)
He's working out his time;
In six months he'll have done it.
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