Captain Bover

DESCRIPTION: "Where hae ye been, ma canny hinny, Where hae ye been, ma winsome man? I've been to the norrad, Cruising sair and lang; I've been to the norrad, cruising back and forrard, But daurna come ashore For Bover and his gang."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1900 (Stokoe/Reay-SongsAndBalladsOfNorthernEngland)
KEYWORDS: pressgang home
FOUND IN: Britain(England(North))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Stokoe/Reay-SongsAndBalladsOfNorthernEngland, p. 90, "Captain Bover" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #3147
NOTES [60 words]: According to Stokoe/Reay-SongsAndBalladsOfNorthernEngland, "Captain [John] Bover was the commander of the press-gang on the Tyne for many years, but appears to have carried out harsh laws as leniently as he could to be effective. He died 20th May 1792."
Ray Fisher sang this fragment alongside "The Weary Cutters," but the connection seems to be a casual one. - RBW
File: StoR090

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