CZTERY REFY - Maggie May

Maggie May

Words traditional
Music traditional: "Maggie May"

Oh, come all sailors bold and when my tale is told
Oh, I know that you all will pity me
For I was a bloomin' fool in the port of Liverpool
On a time when I was off paid off from sea.

I was paid off at the home from a voyage to Seyleone
And two pound ten a month had been my pay,
As I jingled in my tin I was sadly taken in
By a lady, by the name of Maggie May.

Oh, it's Maggie, Maggie May ... Oh, when I steered into her well I hadn't got a care,
I was cruising up and down old Canning Place,
She was dressed in a gown so fine like a frigate of the line
And I being s sailor I give chase.

Oh, it's Maggie, Maggie May ... So she gave me a saucy nod and I like a farmer's clod.
Why I let her take my line abreast in tow,
And under all plain sail we rode before the gale,
And it's to the Crow's Nest tavern we did go.

Oh, it's Maggie, Maggie May ... So next morning I awoke and I found that I was broke,
And she got every penny that was mine,
So I had to pop me suite, my John L's and my boots,
Way down in far claim pawn shop number nine.

Oh, it's Maggie, Maggie May ...

"Maggie May" - An old and very well known Liverpool forebitter. Maggie from Liverpool - a woman having exceptional inclination to sailors and whalemen returning from long voyages and especially to their money was undoubtedly a professional lady and a well known figure among seamen. The fact that she was unlucky enough to get caught and then transported to Van Dieman’s Land gave her an even greater popularity. Stan Hugill claims that “Maggie May” was sung as a capstan shanty, however it was mainly known as a forecastle song and so it is now. As one of only a few remaining from the Great Age of Sails it is currently familiar even to landlubbers. To make matters more interesting let us add that it was even in the repertoire of ...The Beatles.

"Maggie May" is a Polish version of this song.