Trouble With The Truth

Jack-A-Roe (Traditional) 


  There was a wealthy merchant, 
  In London he did dwell 
  He had a lovely daughter, 
  The truth to you I'll tell 
  Oh the truth to you I'll tell 

  She had sweethearts a-plenty 
  And men of high degree 
  There was none but Jack the sailor, 
  Her true love e'er could be 
  Oh her true love e'er could be 

  Now Jackie's gone a-sailing 
  With trouble on his mind 
  To leave his native country 
  And his darling girl behind 
  Oh, his darling girl behind. 

  She went into a tailor shop 
  And dressed in men's array 
  And stepped on board a vessel 
  To convey herself away 
  Oh, to convey herself away. 

  "Before you step on board, sir, 
  Your name I'd like to know" 
  She smiled all in her countenance, 
  "They call me Jackaroe" 
  Oh, they call me Jackaroe. 

  "Your waist is light and slender, 
  Your fingers are neat and small 
  Your cheeks too red and rosy 
  To face the cannonball" 
  Oh, to face the cannon-ball. 

  "I know my waist is slender, 
  My fingers neat and small 
  But it would not make me tremble 
  To see ten thousand fall" 
  Oh, to see ten thousand fall. 

  The war soon being over, 
  They hunted all around 
  And among the dead and dying 
  Her darling boy she found 
  Oh, her darling boy she found. 

  She picked him up all in her arms 
  And carried him to the town 
  And sent for a physician who 
  Quickly healed his wounds 
  Oh, who quickly healed his wounds. 

  This couple they got married 
  And well they did agree 
  This couple they got married, 
  So why not you and me 
  Oh, so why not you and me.