Female Rambling Sailor

Come all you maids, both near and far
 And listen to my story
 'Twas near Gravesend there lived a maid
 She was both neat and pretty.
 Her true love he was pressed away
 And drowned in some foreign sea
 Which caused this fair maid for to say
 'I'll be a female sailor.'
 This maiden was resolved to go
 Across the foaming ocean
 She was resolved to let them know
 How she could gain promotion
 With jacket blue and trousers white
 Just like a sailor neat and tight
 The sea it was the heart's delight
 Of the female rambling 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 walked the decks and sweetly sung
 The female rambling sailor
 When in the storm upon the sea
 She was ready at her station
 Her mind as calm as calm could be
 She loved her occupation
 From stem to stern she boldly goes
 She braves all dangers, fears no foes
 But soon you'll hear the overthrow
 Of the female rambling sailor
 This maiden did a wager lay
 She'd go aloft with any
 And up aloft she straight did go
 Where times she had been many
 The maiden bold oh sad to tell
 She missed her hold and down she fell
 And calmly bid the world farewell
 Did the female rambling sailor
 This maiden gay did fade away
 Just like a drooping lily
 Which made the sailors sigh and say
 Farewell, faithful young Willy
 When her snow white breasts in sight they came
 They saw it was a female frame
 Rebecca Young it was the name
 Of the female rambling sailor.
 May willows wave around her grave
 And round the laurels planted
 May roses sweet grow at the feet
 Of one who was undaunted.
 May a marble stone be inscribed upon
 Here lies one so lately gone
 A maiden fair as sun shone on
 The female rambling sailor
 So, come all you maids, both near and far
 And listen to my story
 Her body's anchored in the ground
 Let's hope her soul's in glory.
 On the river Thames she was known well
 No sailor there could her excel
 One tear let fall as a last farewell
 To the female rambling sailor.