Nantucket Mother and Daughter, The

DESCRIPTION: The ship sails tomorrow to girls' sorrow. Mother says whaling boys do not marry. Daughter says some whalers are worth running after. Daughter describes the sailor she will marry.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1870 (source: Frank-JollySailorsBold)
KEYWORDS: courting infidelity love marriage warning parting separation sea ship dialog nonballad mother sailor | whaler
FOUND IN: US(NE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Frank-JollySailorsBold 20, "The Nantucket Mother and Daughter" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #31328
NOTES [477 words]: Frank's subtitle is "adaptation of The Lowlands of Holland." He looks at the two-verse discussion between the mother and daughter in this song:
Says the mother to the daughter what makes you talk so strange
You never shall be a sailor's wife This wide world for to range
For the whaling boys are roving blade they will travel far and near
And when they do come back again it is not for you they will care.
Says the daughter to the mother what makes you run them down
For there is many a rich farmer's son on board of a sperm whaleman.
For they are so neat and handy they will make such a dubious noise
They will make the girls of Talcahuano town run after the whaling boys.
(Frank-JollySailorsBold pp. 43-44)
Frank notes the parallels to "Lowlands of Holland" lines:
Then up spoke her mother what makes you so lament
Aren't there men enough in this country can give your heart content.
There is men enough in this country But there is none for me,
For the raging seas and stormy winds parted my love and me.
There is another model in the then current Irish broadside Bodleian Bod7276 Harding B 19(94), W. Birmingham (Dublin), c.1867, "Johnny Hart" ("There was a rich farmer's daughter lived near the town of Ross"):
Says the mother to the daughter I'll go distracted mad
If you marry that Highlander soldier dressed im his Highland plaid
To marry a private soldier for ever you're undone
You know your fortune is too great so wed a farmer's son.
Dear mother don't despise my love, and do not run him down
Many a private soldier has raised on high reknown
Many a farmer's daughter has followed the fife and drum
I would not part my soldier for any squire's son.
Not only does "Nantucket Mother and Daughter" follow the structure of "Johnny Hart" but it copies a few phrases in the same relative lines: "run ... down" and, ironically, "many a private soldier" against "many a rich farmer's son."
"Nantucket Mother and Daughter" has a final verse also apparently modelled on another current broadside:
O my love is tall and handsome
His limbs are all complete
With his blue jacket and white pantaloons
He looks so trim and neat
With his rosy cheeks and ruby lips
Likewise his sparkling eyes
All for my life I will be his wife
And love him till he dies
The broadside is Bodleian Bod6878 2806 b.11(17), R. McIntosh (Glasgow), 1860-1874, "Beautiful Mary O":
My love she is handsome her person is straight and tall.
Her limbs is complete, and her waist is perfectly small;
Her lips are like rubies, her cheeks like the blooming rose,
Alas it is too feeling to praise you my Mary O.
Here at least, the borrowing is limited to phrases and not the verse form.
His "blue jacket and white pantaloons," rather than white "trousers," (as in Dibdin's "The Busy Crew," or Laws N28 "Mary and Willie") confirms Frank's view that this song is not intended to be taken seriously. - BS
Last updated in version 7.0
File: FJSB020

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