Commentary
This ballad begins: ?A sailor courted a farmer?s daughter / that lived convenient to the Isle of man / But mark good people what followed after / a long time courting against their will?. There is no date or place of publication.
This ballad tells the story of a sailor who decides get married ?beneath his station? to a farmer?s daughter in spite of his mother?s disapproval. Early ballads were dramatic or humorous narrative songs derived from folk culture that predated printing. Originally perpetuated by word of mouth, many ballads survive because they were recorded on broadsides. Musical notation was rarely printed, as tunes were usually established favourites. The term 'ballad' eventually applied more broadly to any kind of topical or popular verse.
View Transcription | Download PDF Facsimile
|
