I was a serving maid down in Drury Lane Me master he was good to me, me mistress was the same When along came a sailor on shore on liberty And oh, to me woe, he took liberties with me Chorus Singing bell-bottom trousers, coats of navy blue Let him climb the rigging, like his daddy used to do It was at a ball I met him, he asked me for to dance I knowed he was a sailor by the way he wore his pants His shoes were neatly polished, his hair was neatly combed And when the ball was over, he asked to see me home Instrumental He asked me for a handkerchief to tie around his head He asked me for a candle to light his way to bed I, a foolish maiden, not thinking it no harm I jumped into the sailor's bed to keep the sailor warm
Chorus I knowed he was no Samson, but that night we went to town He laid me on the bed there till me blue eyes turned to brown And early the next morning, before the break of day A twelve-pound note he gave to me, these warning words did say He said, "Take this, me darling, for the damage I have done For you may have a daughter, or you may have a son Well, if you have a daughter, then jounce her on your knee And if you have a son, well send the ba*tard out to sea." Chorus Now listen all you maidens to me girlish plea Don't ever let a sailor get his hand above your knee Oh, I trusted one once, and he put out to sea And left me with a daughter for to bounce upon me knee