The Handsome Cabin Boy

[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"