Girls Don’t Go to Sea

An Edinburgh Shanty Co. original written by Julia

My sister Meg she went to sea
My mum said not to follow
In her footsteps cause that would be
A cause for pain and sorrow
I made my way along the coast
To every port and city
I begged each captain for a post
But I was met with scorn and pity

Girls don’t go to sea is what I heard every day
Well I’m a grown-ass woman so please hear me when I say: 
One day I’ll be at sea, yes I’ll be among my kind
So shut your mouth and let me leave you very far behind

I thought of robbing banks, perhaps
Of slitting throats and stabbing
Captains but their ale-filled guts 
Had much protective padding
And crime gets you to sea, it’s true
Aboard a governmental ship 
But shackles do weigh heavily
And it’s a one-way trip

When I’d lost hope and said I would
Go back home to my mother
That’s when a seamstress said I should
Go seek out her odd brother
Her brother was a shantyman
His crew was large and varied
I asked if really anyone can
Join for songs of chariots

The shantyman said can you sing
I said sometimes and mostly
I write songs too but here’s the thing
Some rhymes are downright ghastly
The crew did cheer, the shantyman
Said come and join our journey
And now it’s been a year of gran(d)
Adventures, friends and the sea