The Jeannie C.

Stan Rogers

Come all ye lads, draw near to me, that I be not forsaken

This day was lost the Jeannie C. and my living has been taken

I'll go to sea no more



We set out his day in the bright sunrise, the same as any other

My son and I and old John Price in the boat named for my mother

I'll go to sea no more



Now it's well you know what the fishing has been, it's been scarce and hard and cruel

But this day, by God, we sure caught cod, and we sang and we laughed like fools

I'll go to sea no more



I'll never know what it was we struck, but strike we did like thunder

John Price give a cry and pitched overside. Now it's forever he's gone under

I'll go to sea no more



Now a leak we've sprung, let there be no delay if the Jeannie C. we're saving

John Price is drown'd and slip'd away. So I'll patch the hole while you're bailing

I'll go to sea no more



But no leak I found from bow to hold. No rock it was that got her

But what I found made me heart stop cold, for every seam poured water

I'll go to sea no more



My God, I cried as she went down. That boat was like no other

My father built her when I was nine, and named her for my mother

I'll go to sea no more



And sure I could have another made in the boat shop down in Dover

But I would not love the keel they laid like the one the waves roll over

I'll go to sea no more



So come all ye lads, draw near to me, that I be not forsaken

This day was lost the Jeannie C. and my whole life has been taken

I'll go to sea no more: