Skip to content
1824–1903

THE LADY-SAILOR

Charles Godfrey Leland

I’ ll go in yon boat, my mother, Oh yes! in yon boat I’ ll go; I’ ll go with the mariner, mother, And I’ ll be a mariner too.

Ay, ay, ay, verdadero, Ay, ay, con el marinero! And I’ ll be a mariner too! Mother, there’ s no refusing,

What true love demands I must do; In love there’ s no picking and choosing, So I’ ll be a mariner too. Ay, ay, verdadero,

Ay, ay, con el marinero, And I’ ll be a mariner too! “I like those Spanish songs,” the stranger said: “Many I’ ve heard and many I have read,

And if you like I’ ll give you one in rhyme, By Gil Vincente of the oldest time, Which holds its own, and bravely, one may say, For Spanish sailors sing it to this day.”

Cookies on Poetry Cove

We use cookies to remember your language preference and — only with your consent — to learn how Poetry Cove is used. You can change your mind any time.