Mrs. Daisy Simmons
Lecta Avenue
Fort Smith, Arkansas
February 24, 1951
Reel 92, Item 1
The Sailor Boy
Learned at about sixteen, from girl friends in Tennessee, (see biographical
sketch)
Mrs. Simmons was timid about singing this song, and does not want
her name to be commected with it or with "The Keyhole in the Door" on
the same reel. She sang other songs on this reel which she doen't
mind being associated with.
Home, sweet home, and home it ought to be;
Home, sweet home in the old countree;
The birds and the bees, and the blossoms on the trees,
And the birds sings loud in South Amerikee.
I know a pretty maiden, that she ought to be;
(off the reel, sang it "a maid she ought to be")
Collected by Irene Carlisle
Transcribed by Mary C. Parler
She called for a candle to light him up to bed,
Also a napkin to bind around his head;
She led him up to bed as a maiden ought to do,
And the sailor boy says, "There's room enough for two."
Jumped in the bed for to keep myself warm;
Didn't think the sailor boy'd do me any harm;
The harm that he done me I never shall forget,
And I wish that night had 'a' lasted seven years.
Home, sweet home, and home it ought to be;
Home, sweet home, in the old countree;
The birds and the bees, and the blossoms on the trees,
And the lark sings loud in South Amerikee.