It's of a fair and handsome girl, she's all in her tender years
She fell in love with a sailor boy and it's true that she loved him well
For to go off to sea with him, like she did not know how,
She longed to see that seaport town, called Canadee-I-O.

So she bargained with a young sailor boy, it's all for a piece of gold
Straighway he led her all down into the hold
Saying I'll dress you up in sailor's clothes, your jacket shall be blue,
You'll see that seaport town, called Canadee-I-O.

Now, when the other sailors heard the news, they fell into a rage,
And with all the whole ship's company, they were willing to engage,
Saying "We'll tie her hands and feet me boys, overboard we'll throw her
And she'll never see that seaport town, called Canadee-I-O."

Now, when the captain he's heard the news, well he too fell into a rage,
And with his whole ship's company he was willing to engage,
Saying "She'll stay all in sailor's clothes, her collar shall be blue,
She'll see that seaport town, called Canadee-I-O."

Now when they came down to Canada, scarcely above half a year,
She's married this bold captain, who called her his dear,
She's dressed in silks and satins now, and she cuts a gallant show
She's the finest of the ladies down in Canadee-I-O.

Come all you fair and tender girls, wheresoever you may be,
I'd have you follow your own true love when he goes out on the sea,
For if the sailors prove false to you, well the captain he might prove true,
To see the honour that I have gained by the wearing of the blue.

Trad. Arranged Nic Jones, From Penguin Eggs

CANADEE-I-O  from Digitrad

It's of a gallant lady, just in the prime of youth.
She dearly loved a sailor; in fact, she loved to wed,
And how to get to sea with him the way she did not know,
All for to see this pretty place called Canadee-I-O.

She bargained with a sailor all for a purse of gold,
And straightway he had taken her right down into the hold,
'I'll dress you up in sailor suit; your colors shall be blue
And you soon will see that pretty place, called Canadee-I-O.

When our mate had heard this, he fell into a rage,
Likewise our ship's company was willing to engage:
'I'll tie your hands and feet, my love, and overboard you'll go,
And you'll never see the pretty place called Canadee-I-O.'

And when the captain heard this: "This thing shall never be,
For if you drown that fair maid, hanged sure you'll be;
I'll take her to my cabin, her colors shall be blue,
And she soon will see that pretty place called Canadee-I-O.'

They had not arrived in Canada more than the space of half a year,
Before the Captain married her, and called her his very dear.
She can dress in silk or satin; she caught a gallant show;
She was one of the fairest ladies in Canadee-I-0.

Come all ye, young ladies, whoever you may be,
To be sure and follow your true love, if ever he goes to sea,
And if your mate, he do prove false, you're captain he'll prove true,
And you'll see the honor I have gained by wearing of the blue

DT #378
@sailor @transvestite
Printed in Leach Folk Ballads & Songs of the Lower Labrador Coast
filename CANADIO3
RG