Handsome Cabin Boy Waltz Lyrics - Jerry Garcia

It's of a pretty female as you will understand 

Her mind was set on rambling into a foreign land 

She dressed herself in man's attire and boldly did appear 

And she engaged with a captain to serve him for a year. 

The captain's lady being on board, she seemed in great joy 

To think that the captain had engaged such a handsome cabin boy 

And many's the time she cuddled and kissed, and she would have liked to toy 

But 'twas the captain found out the secret of the handsome cabin boy 

Verse 3 Her cheeks they were like roses, her hair was all a-curl 

The sailors often smiled and said, he looks just like a girl 

But eating the captain's biscuit, well, her color it did destroy 

And the waist did swell of pretty Nell, the handsome cabin boy. 

Verse 4 As through the Bay of Biscay our gallant ship did plough 

One night among the sailors there came an awful row 

They tumbled from their hammocks for their rest it did destroy 

They complained about the groaning of the handsome cabin boy 

Verse 5 It's doctor, dearest doctor, the cabin boy did cry 

My time has come, I am undone, surely I must die 

The doctor ran with all his might, a-smiling at the fun 

For to think a cabin boy could have a daughter or a son 

Verse 6 Now when the sailors heard the joke, they all began to stare 

The child belongs to none of us, they solemnly did swear 

And the lady to the captain said "My dear I wish you joy 

For it was either you or I betrayed the handsome cabin boy." 

Verse 7 Come all of you bold fellows and we'll drink success to trade 

And likewise to the cabin boy who was neither man nor maid 

And if the wars should rise again, us sailors to destroy 

Well, here's hoping for a jolly lot more like the handsome cabin boy.