Round Cape Horn


Round Cape Horn   (Deirdre)

When Sailor Jack went off to sea, the girls he left on shore might seize the opportunity to make the most of his absence. This song, collected from a Nantucket whaler, portrays the girls in their “long false curls and long false hair.” We especially like keeping the “young men all in tow.”

Round Cape Horn

Round Cape Horn the young men go
When the young men go away
Then the young girls dress up neat
And go walking down the street.

Chorus:  Right fol-day folididdle day
Right fol rido foliddle day.

Far from the field are young men gone
Far from home and all forlorn
Wish to the Lord that they'd never been born
To go a cruisin 'round Cape Horn.

When those young men do get home
This is the story they do hear
Oh, come along you need not fear
For nobody's courted me, my dear.

Sweet false smiles they long {like} for to wear
Long false curls and long false hair
White satin slippers wtih a silken bow
To keep those young men all in tow.