The Jeannie C.

(album: Turnaround - 1978)

Come all ye lads, draw near to me, that I be not forsaken
This day was lost the Jeannie C. and my living has been taken
I'll go to sea no more

We set out his day in the bright sunrise, the same as any other
My son and I and old John Price in the boat named for my mother
I'll go to sea no more

Now it's well you know what the fishing has been, it's been scarce and hard and cruel
But this day, by God, we sure caught cod, and we sang and we laughed like fools
I'll go to sea no more

I'll never know what it was we struck, but strike we did like thunder
John Price give a cry and pitched overside. Now it's forever he's gone under
I'll go to sea no more

Now a leak we've sprung, let there be no delay if the Jeannie C. we're saving
John Price is drown'd and slip'd away. So I'll patch the hole while you're bailing
I'll go to sea no more

But no leak I found from bow to hold. No rock it was that got her
But what I found made me heart stop cold, for every seam poured water
I'll go to sea no more

My God, I cried as she went down. That boat was like no other
My father built her when I was nine, and named her for my mother
I'll go to sea no more

And sure I could have another made in the boat shop down in Dover
But I would not love the keel they laid like the one the waves roll over
I'll go to sea no more

So come all ye lads, draw near to me, that I be not forsaken
This day was lost the Jeannie C. and my whole life has been taken
I'll go to sea no more