Feb. 24, 19861 viewer
The Handsome Cabin Boy Lyrics
[Verse 1]
It's of a pretty female, as you may understand
Her mind being bent for rambling unto some foreign land
She dressed herself in sailor's clothes, or so it does appear
And she hired with a captain to serve him for a year
[Verse 2]
Her cheeks they were like roses and her hair rolled in a curl
The sailors often smiled and said he looked just like a girl
But eating of the captain's biscuit her colour did destroy
And the waist did swell of pretty Nell, the handsome cabin boy
[Verse 3]
It was in the bay of Biscay our gallant ship did plough
One night among the sailors was a fearful flurry and row
They tumbled from their hammocks for their sleep it did destroy
And they sworn about the groaning of the handsome cabin boy
[Verse 4]
"Oh doctor, dear, oh doctor," the cabin boy did cry
"My time has come, I am undone and I will surely die"
The doctor come a-runnin' and a-smilin' at the fun
To think a sailor lad should have a daughter or a son
[Verse 5]
The sailors when they saw the joke they all did stand and stare
The child belonged to none of them they solemnly did swear
The captain's wife, she says to him, "My dear, I wish you joy
For 'tis either you or me's betrayed the handsome cabin boy"
It's of a pretty female, as you may understand
Her mind being bent for rambling unto some foreign land
She dressed herself in sailor's clothes, or so it does appear
And she hired with a captain to serve him for a year
[Verse 2]
Her cheeks they were like roses and her hair rolled in a curl
The sailors often smiled and said he looked just like a girl
But eating of the captain's biscuit her colour did destroy
And the waist did swell of pretty Nell, the handsome cabin boy
[Verse 3]
It was in the bay of Biscay our gallant ship did plough
One night among the sailors was a fearful flurry and row
They tumbled from their hammocks for their sleep it did destroy
And they sworn about the groaning of the handsome cabin boy
[Verse 4]
"Oh doctor, dear, oh doctor," the cabin boy did cry
"My time has come, I am undone and I will surely die"
The doctor come a-runnin' and a-smilin' at the fun
To think a sailor lad should have a daughter or a son
[Verse 5]
The sailors when they saw the joke they all did stand and stare
The child belonged to none of them they solemnly did swear
The captain's wife, she says to him, "My dear, I wish you joy
For 'tis either you or me's betrayed the handsome cabin boy"
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Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Who wrote the song originally
Genius Answer
The actual writer of the song is unknown, although it is noted that the song is a popular English folk song passed through generations.
The Hounds of Love liner notes list the writer as “Traditional” as thus that credit has been used on Genius.
- 10.Burning Bridge
- 11.My Lagan Love
- 12.The Handsome Cabin Boy
- 13.Not This Time
- 17.Ken
- 20.Experiment IV
Credits
Producer
Writer
Remastering Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Assistant Engineer
Engineer
Mastering Engineer
Keyboards
Vocals
Recorded At
Wickham Farm Home Studio
Release Date
February 24, 1986
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