The Female Smuggler
Collected by Bob Copper in about 1954 from a book left by John Johnson (right), 1865-1943, in Fittleworth, Sussex: see Chapter Nine, pp. 83-9, of Songs and Southern Breezes for the details; and the appendix for these words. The photo of John Johnson at his garden date is credited to George Garland of Petworth (West Sussex). Click on the photo for a much larger one (also by George Garland, and which might have been taken around 1940) of John Johnson and his wife on their golden wedding anniversary.
Come list a while and you soon shall hear,
By the rolling seas lived a maiden fair,
Her father followed the smuggling trade,
Like a warlike hero, like a warlike hero,
He never was afraid.In sailor's clothing young Jane did go,
Dressed like a sailor from top to toe,
Her aged father was the only care
Of the female smuggler, of the female smuggler,
Who never did despair.Not far they had travelled from the land
When a strange sail they espied coming after them.
They are sea-robbers, this maid did cry
And the female smuggler, and the female smuggler
Will conquer or will die.They hadn't sailed far before they were spake
By the commodore of the blockade.
He said, Surrender or you must fall.
Said the female smuggler, said the female smuggler,
I never feared a ball.What do you mean? said the Commodore;
I mean to fight for my father's poor.
So she drew the trigger and shot him through,
Did the female smuggler, did the female smuggler,
And to her father flew.They beat the robbers and took their store
And soon returned to old England's shore;
With a keg of brandy she walked along,
Did the female smuggler, did the female smuggler,
And sweetly sung a song.But they was followed by the blockade,
In irons strong they put this fair maid;
But when they had her up to be tried,
This young female smuggler, this young female smuggler,
Stood dressed like some bride.You must pardon this maid, said a gentleman,
To make her my bride is now my plan.
Pardon I beg for her on my knees,
She's a valiant maiden, she's a valiant maiden,
So pardon if you please.
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