O cruel were his parent who sent my love to sea,
And cruel was that ship that bore my love from me,
Yet I love his parents since they’re his, although they’ve ruined me.
I love my love, because I know my love loves me!
With roses, lilies, daisies, I’ll mix the eglantine;
And I’ll present it to my love when he returns from sea.
For I love my love, because I know my love loves me!”
Just as she sat there weeping, her love he came on land,
Then, hearing she was in Bedlam, he ran straight out of hand;
“I love my love, because I know my love loves me!”
She said, “My love don’t frighten me; are you my love or no?”
“Oh yes, my dearest Nancy, I am your love, also
I am return’d to make amends for all your injury;
I love my love, because I know my love loves me!”
So now these two are married, and happy may they be
Like turtle doves together, in love and unity.
All pretty maids with patience wait that have got loves at sea;
I love my love, because I know my love loves me.
– English Sea Shanty, arr. Alice Parker and Robert Shaw
Although most shanties were upbeat and rhythmic, is an example
of a Long-haul or Halyard shanty. These shanties were for tasks that required heavy
labor over a long period of time, as when hauling ropes to hoist or lower heavy sails.
The modern consensus is that the Hilo referred to is the Peruvian port of Ylo (or Ilo),
rather than the Hawaiian port of Hilo which was only so named after the shanty was
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