Living

Adieu my gallant sailor, obey thy duty's call

by Charles Dibdin 1745–1814

From A Collection of Songs, Selected from the Works of Mr. Dibdin (1790)

Living

Adieu my gallant sailor, obey thy duty's call,
Though false the sea, there's truth ashore;
Till nature is found changing, thou'rt sure of constant Poll:
And yet, as now we sever,
Ah much I fear that never
Shall I alas behold thee more.

Jack kiss'd her, hitch'd his trowsers, and hied him to begone,
Weigh'd anchor, and lost sight of shore;
Next day a brisk south-wester a heavy gale brought on,
Adieu cried Jack for ever,
For much I fear that never
Shall I, sweet Poll, behold you more.

Poll heard that to the bottom was sunk her honest tar,
And for a while lamented sore;
At length, cried she, I'll marry; what should I tarry for?
I may lead apes for ever,
Jack's gone, and never, never
Shall I, alas, behold him more!

Jack safe and sound returning, sought out his faithful Poll,
Think not, cried she, that false I swore,
I'm constant still as ever, 'tis nature's chang'd, that's all;
And thus we part for ever,
For never, sailor, never
Shall I alas behold you more!

If, as you say, that nature like winds can shift and veer,
About ship for a kinder-shore,
I heard the trick you play'd me, and so, d'ye see, my dear,
To a kind heart for ever
I've spliced myself, so never
Shall I, false Poll, behold you more.

MLA

Dibdin, Charles. “Adieu my gallant sailor, obey thy duty's call.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/dibdin/105/.

Chicago

Dibdin, Charles. “Adieu my gallant sailor, obey thy duty's call.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/dibdin/105/.

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