> Tim Hart & Maddy Prior > Songs > Maid That's Deep in Love

Maid That's Deep in Love

[ Roud 231 ; Laws N12 ; Ballad Index LN12 ; trad.]

A song with a strange ending. Whatever happened to true love? Maddy Prior sang Maid That's Deep in Love in 1968 on her and Tim Hart's first duo album Folk Songs of Old England Vol. 1. The record's sleeve notes comment:

This version of the well known Female Cabin Boy is from the singing of Lal Smith, a Belfast tinker. It is interesting to note that the maid, in this version, remains undetected which causes the captain to seem homosexual.

Lyrics

Maddy Prior sings Maid That's Deep in Love

I am a maid that's deep in love but yes I can complain
I have in this world but one true love and Jimmy is his name
And if I do not find my love I'll mourn most constantly
And I'll find and follow Jimmy to the lands of liberty

Then I'll cut off my yellow locks, men's clothing I'll wear on
I'll sign to a bold sea captain, my passage I'll work free
And I'll find and follow Jimmy to the lands of liberty

One night all on the raging seas as we were going to bed
The captain cried “Farewell my boy, I wish you were a maid
Your rosy cheeks and ruby lips they are enticing me
And I wish to God with all my heart, a maid you were to me”

“Then hold your tongue, dear captain, such talk is all in vain
And if the sailors find it out, they'd laugh and make much game
For when we reach Columbia shore some prettier girls you'll find
And you'll laugh and sing and court with them, for courting you are inclined”

Well it was no three days after our ship it reached the shore
“Bid adieu my loving captain, adieu for ever more
For once I was a sailor on sea but now I am a maid on shore
So I bid adieu to you and all your crew, with you I'll sail no more”

“Come back, come back, my own pretty maid, come back and marry me
I have three thousand pounds in gold and that I'll give to thee
So come back, come back, my own pretty maid, come back and marry me”