(Sir Patrick Spens, Child No. 58)
© 1975 Bob Coltman
I sang with Ed Trickett professionally for many years, and still do for fun. I think I learned this song from him in the 1970s or one of those decades. His friend Bob Coltman has written many hundreds of songs including the great folk-favorite, Lonesome Robin.
Through friends in various services, I've come to know what it's like to be sent to sea and kept out there by people who never had to be out there.
Gordon – 12-string guitar
Oh, don't the moon look pretty, she sails like a ship in the sky
Darling, you don't know nothing about sailing, she's got a cast in the eye
When the moon weeps silvery tears, you can look for a terrible storm
God pity the sailor that's out tomorrow, I'm glad I can bide at home
If you be Patrick Spencer, and man, you better had be
Here's a letter from the King, he commands you to go to sea
How little he thinks of the dangers, among his wine and his song
His daughter in far Norroway, she's sick and she wants to come home
He might have written me greeting, he might have cast me blame
He might have asked me a hundred favors, God knows I'd never complain
But this running up in the rigging with a hurricane on the wing
It's come to a matter of like and death to have to pleasure the King
Standing out to sea, oh Lord, it commenced to rain
The sea like the tops of mountains, and the wind like a thing in pain
Patrick Spencer took his glass, and he put it in Johnny's hand
Run up, Johnny, as high as you can, and see if you see any land
No land, Patrick Spencer, no never a sight of shore
The give it over, boys, he cried, we'll never see home any more
Never mind your knuckle shoes, for you'll wet more than your feet
And as for the letter from the King, it's a damn small winding-sheet
Christinie be a long, long while a-waiting for me to come home
And the cold, cold sea be a long, long time a-walking over my bones
That man that told the King about me, I wish I had him here
And the one last wish I would like to have granted is to carry him under with me
Patrick Spencer is recorded on the album In Concert