The Unfortunate Lass - Eliza Carthy/The Ratcatchers
Oh bright was the sunshine and warm was the day
I spied a young woman  wrapped up in white linen
Wrapped up in white linen and colder than clay
I asked her what ailed her  I asked her what failed her
I asked her the cause of all her complaint
Well  it was all on account of some handsome young sailor
Now it's he that has caused me to weep and lament
And had he but told me before he disordered me
Had he but told me of it in time
I might have got pills and salts of white mercury
But now I'm cut down in the height of my prime
When I was a young girl I used to seek pleasure
When I was a young girl  with a sailor so brave
Then it was out of the ale-house and into the gaol-house
Right out of the bar-room and into my grave
Singing  come by dear mother and sit yourself by me
Oh come by dear father oh sing me one song
My poor head is aching  my sad heart is breaking
I'm a true-hearted girl but I know I've done wrong
Oh once on the quayside I used to (go with me )
Oh in my young days when I used to be gay
Oh down by the dock with those handsome young sailors
Those boys are to carry me  poor me to my grave
Now mother  come mother to wash and to dress me
Send for my sister to curl my black hair
And ask my dear brother to play the pipe slowly
And play the dead march as they carry me there
And send for the minister to come and pray for me
Oh send for the doctor although it's too late
My poor head is aching  my sad heart is breaking
My body's salivating and Hell is my fate
The Unfortunate Lass - Eliza Carthy