46 - Home, Boys, Home

Words by Traditional / Roary Skaista
Tune by Traditional

This traditional song comes from two earlier traditional songs put together - Rosemary Lane and The Oak and The Ash. Our version has been edited and added to by Roary Skaista

Oh who wouldn’t be a sailor lad a-sailing on the main
To gain the good will of his captain is to blame
For he went ashore, one evening for to be
And that was the beginning of the whole calamity

And it’s home, boys, home!
Home I’d like to be
Home for a while in me own country
Where the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree
Are all a-blooming freely in the north country

Now I asked her for a handkerchief to tie around me head
And likewise for a candle for to light me up to bed
She tended to me needs just as I like a maid to do
So then I says to her, “Why don’t you jump in with me too?”

And it’s home, boys, home!..

Oh she jumped into bed now taking no alarm
Thinking a young sailor lad to her could do no harm
I hugged her, I kissed her the whole night long
Until she wished the short night had been seven years long

And it’s home, boys, home!..

Well early next morning the sailor lad arose
And into Mary’s apron poured a pocket full of gold
Saying, “Take this my dear for the mischief I have done
For tonight I fear I’ve left you with a daughter or a son”

And it’s home, boys, home!
Home I’d like to be
Home for a while in me own country
Where the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree
Are all a-blooming freely in the north country

Now if it be a girl child we’ll send her out to nurse
With silver in her pocket and gold in her purse
And if it be a boy child we’ll give him the jacket blue,
And send him up the rigging like his daddy used to do

And it’s home, boys, home!..

🔷And if the child’s non-binary then what are we to do?
Should we send them out to nurse or give them the jacket blue?
Well to hell with all the stereotypes and fuck the gender roles!
They’ll never listen anyway, for kids don’t do as they’re told!

And it’s home, boys, home!..

🔷Come listen all you fair maids take this advice from me
Never let a sailor lad an inch above your knee
For I trusted one and he beguiled me
But since I’ve got this song as proof he’s paying paternity!

And it’s home, boys, home!
Home I’d like to be
Home for a while in me own country
Where the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree
Are all a-blooming freely in the north country