Ballad of The Female Sailor Bold
Thornton's story inspired the ballad The Female Sailor Bold, also called The Female Sailor. The following is the text of the ballad, as sold in the United States from c. 1835.
An edited version appears in The Oxford Book of English Traditional Verse (1983).
Good people give attention and listen to my song; Her name was Ann Jane Thornton, as you presently shall hear, She was courted by a captain when not fifteen years of age, She dress'd herself with sailors clothes and was overcome with joy Then to her true loves fathers she hastened with speed, Some thousand miles she was from home from friends far away |
Then she went on board the Adelaide, to cross the troubled wave From St Andrew's in America this fair maid did set sail, With pitch and tar her hands were hard, tho' once like velvet soft 'Twas in the month of February eighteen hundred thirty five, At the Mansion-House she appear'd before the Lord Mayor, It was to seek her lover that sailed across the main, |
Read more about this topic: Anne Jane Thornton
Famous quotes containing the words ballad, female and/or sailor:
“During the cattle drives, Texas cowboy music came into national significance. Its practical purpose is well knownit was used primarily to keep the herds quiet at night, for often a ballad sung loudly and continuously enough might prevent a stampede. However, the cowboy also sang because he liked to sing.... In this music of the range and trail is the grayness of the prairies, the mournful minor note of a Texas norther, and a rhythm that fits the gait of the cowboys pony.”
—Administration in the State of Texa, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“Of all the riddles of a married life, said my father ... there is not one that has more intricacies in it than thisthat from the very moment the mistress of the house is brought to [child]bed, every female in it ... becomes an inch taller for it....
I think rather, replied my uncle Toby, that tis we who sink an inch lower.”
—Laurence Sterne (17131768)
“He is the best sailor who can steer within the fewest points of the wind, and extract a motive power out of the greatest obstacles. Most begin to veer and tack as soon as the wind changes from aft, and as within the tropics it does not blow from all points of the compass, there are some harbors which they can never reach.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)