The Female Rambling Sailor
(@ 1784 long version)

Come all you people far an near
And listen to my ditty
At Gravesend lived a maiden fair
Who was both young and pretty

Her love he was press'd away
And drowned in a foreign sea
Which caus'd this maiden for to say
"I'll be a female sailor"

This maiden she was resolved to go
Across the foaming ocean
She was resolved to let them know
How she can gain promotion

With jacket blue and trowsers white
Just like a sailor neat and tight
The sea it was the heart's delight
Of the rambling female sailor

Like a sailor true she went on board
All for to do her duty
She was always ready at a call
This maid the queen of beauty

When in a calm this damsel young
Would charm the sailors with her tongue
As she walk'd the decks and sweetly sung
The rambling female sailor

When in the storm upon the sea
Her mind as calm as calm could be
She loved her occupation
From stem to stern she'd boldly go

She braved all dangers, feared no foe
But soon you'll hear the overthrow
Of the rambling female sailor

This maiden gay did a wager lay
She would go aloft with any
And up aloft she straight did go
Where times she had been many

This maiden bold, oh sad to tell
She missed her hold and down she fell
And calmly bid this world farewell
Did the female sailor bold

This maiden guy did fade away
Is Just like a drooping willow
Which made the sailors sigh and sea
Farewell, young faithful Willy

When her snow-white breasts in sight came
She proved to be a female frame
And Rebecca Young it was the name
Of the rambling female sailor

May willows wave all round her grave
And round it laurels planted
May roses sweet grow at the feet
Of one who was undaunted

May a marble stone be inscribed upon
Near here lies one so lately gone
A maiden fair as sun shone on-
The rambling female sailor

So all young men and maidens around
Come listen to my story
Her body is anchored to the ground
On the River Thames she was known well
Few sailors could with her excell
The tear let fall as the fate you tell
Of the rambling female sailor