Clare County Library | Songs of Clare |
Clare County Library | Songs of Clare |
Caroline and Her Young Sailor Bold (Laws N17; Roud 553) ![]() Cloonlaheen, Doolough Recorded in singer's home, October 2000 ![]() |
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It’s about a rich nobleman's daughter, His cheeks were as red as the roses, Said he, "My noble lady, Said she, "There’s no one to prevent me Many times her lover was shipwrecked, Caroline went straight home to her father When her father admired young Willie,
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"References to the
drawing room in virtually all versions of this song suggest it was the
composition of a parlour-poet or broadside hack rather than of the old
ballad-makers; this is confirmed by the number of times it has appeared
on broadsides. Its form has hardly altered down the ages and it has remained
a firm favourite with country singers in Britain, Ireland and America.
Its popularity is undoubtedly due to its familiar theme of a genteel lady,
faced with parental opposition to her choice of sailor lover, going to
sea in search of him dressed as a sailor, surviving the various dangers
including many shipwrecks, finally finding him and returning triumphantly
to her once outraged family – who could possibly ask for more? O
Lochlainn got his version ‘from a young girl in the Roscrea area
named Maírín, whose surname I forget’ in 1935; he
amusedly commented that she sang ‘Caroline viewed his departments’
rather than Peggy’s ‘watched his departure’, or ‘viewed
his deportment’ as found elsewhere.” Reference: More Irish Street Ballads, Colm O Lochlainn, Three Candles Press, Dublin 1965. Jim Carroll |
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