Story Behind The Song
This is a song about the merchant ships going between US and Europe, that signed up poor young men with stories of fame and fortune in the pubs. Most were lost killed or dead from smallpox, famine, disease. Often ghost ships filled with dead young men were seen floating until they capsized. Most in port towns were aware of the fate of these poor boys, but each thought they would be different, bring home fortune, become a hero. This is the fate still of poor boys all over the world in all eras.
Song Description
This is about a poor mother around the 1600-1700's that is watchng her proud son go off on a merchant ship to find his fortune, knowing that he will not return.
| Song Length |
4:53 |
Genre |
Folk - Traditional |
| Tempo |
Slow (71 - 90) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Heartbreaking, Moving |
Language |
English |
| Era |
1700 - 1799 |
| |
Lyrics
poor boys
So she takes him down to the sea
Where the young boys line up to be
Like the men whose tales get told
Like the men the sea won't let go
They're the poor, poor, poor boys
Just the poor, poor, poor boys
Poor boys, poor boys, poor boys
Going to sea
The port's so alive on this day
Here the landlovers fortunes are made
With the blood of men they've paid
For the spices and rum, that was trade
They're the poor, poor, poor boys
Just the poor, poor, poor boys
Poor boys, poor boys, poor boys
Going to sea
He's so proud in blues setting sail
And his mom stands lonely and pale
For she knows his fate from this day
Will most sure be a watery grave
He's a poor, poor, poor boy
Just a poor, poor, poor boy
Poor boy, poor boy, poor boy
Going to sea