Folk & Traditional Song Lyrics www.traditionalmusic.co.uk There Was a Sea Captain (2) 
There Was a Sea Captain (2) 
Oh there was a sea captain who wedded of late To a beautiful lady who had an estate. This very same captain was bound for the sea, And before they were bedded he was called away. 
Chorus: Rowdly and rowdly addy, rowdly and rowdly addy Rax fall the diddle daddy, rax fall da-DEE. 
Now there was a squire who lived close by And he went to this lady her nerve for to try. Saying, "Your husband the sea captain, he's gone to roam, And I'll make him a cuckold before he comes home!" 
Chorus 
He took her in's arms and he gave her a kiss, Saying a slice off a cut loaf will never be missed. "Hold hard!" says the lady, don't you play so cool; If my husband comes home, he would call me a fool." 
Chorus 
Six months were over and nine months had passed When this beautiful lady grew thick round the waist. Nine months being over that very same night, Her husband the sea captain safely arrived. 
Chorus 
He took her in's arms, her for to embrace, And he said, "My dear jewel, you grow thick round the waist." "Ah! that's nothing but fat," the lady did say. "Why should I grow slender while you're gone away?" 
Chorus 
Supper was over, they sat in the hall, And this beautiful lady, she gave a loud bawl, Crying, "The colic, the colic, the colic," she cried. "I'm so bad with the colic I fear I will die." 
Chorus 
The doctor was sent for, and when he came there He called for the house maid to hand him a chair. The housemaid she answered out in the next room, "I'm so bad with the colic I cannot go down." 
Chorus 
The doctor was sent for and when he did come, He delivered this lady of a young son. He delivered the cook and housemaid of the same, And Joan in the Garret, she finished the game. 
Chorus
 . . For this funny joke I'll forgive you my dear, If you answer one question, one thing if you can. Does all these young babies belong to one man? 
Chorus 
The squire and myself, to bed we did go, And the cook and the butler they followed also. The housemaid and footman, they both did the same, And Joan in the Garret, she finished the game. 
Chorus 
Notes: What is called in the DT "THE SEA CAPTAIN", as recorded by Tom Dahill on "The Ragged Hank of Yarn", Flying Fish Records, under the title "Joan in the Garret" and, according to the accompanying notes, from Kerry as sung by Terrance Teahan in Chicago. Dahill says on the recording that the song is not complete, implying that there is at least one more verse. Between SEACAPT and the above, it would seem possible to reconstruct the whole song pretty accurately. "Fool" in the third verse is an obvious euphemism. WK 
DT #734 Laws Q12 WK Apr98