It's of a pretty female as you may understand Her mind been bent for rambling into some foreign land She dressed herself in sailor's clothes, or so it does appear And she hired with a captain to serve him for a year
Her cheeks they were like roses and her hair all in a curl The sailors often smiled and said he looked just like a girl But eating all the captain's biscuit her colour did destroy And the waist did swell of pretty Nell, the handsome cabin boy
It was in the Bay of Biscay her gallant ship did plow One night among the sailors was a fearful floorin' row They tumbled from their hammocks, for their sleep it did destroy And they swarmed about the groanin' of the handsome cabin boy
"Oh doctor, dear. Oh doctor," the cabin boy did cry "The time has come -- I am undone, and I will surely die" The doctor come a'runnin' and a'smilin' at their fun -- To think a sailor lad should have a daughter or a son
The sailors when they saw the joke, they all did stand and stare The child belonged to none of them, they solemnly did swear And the captain's wife she says to him, "My dear I wish you joy For 'tis either you or me's betrayed the handsome cabin boy"