There Was A Wealthy Merchant - Steeleye Span

There was a wealthy merchant

In London he did dwell

He had a beautiful daughter

The truth to you I’ll tell

Oh, the truth to you I’ll tell

She had sweethearts a-plenty

And men of high degree

But none but Jack the sailor

Her true love ere could be

Oh, her true love ere could be

Jack he’s gone a-sailing

With trouble on his mind

He’s left his king and his country

And his darling girl behind

Oh, his darling girl behind

She went down to a tailor’s shop

And dressed in men’s array

She’s signed a bill of passage

To convey herself away

Oh, convey herself away

Before you get on board, Sir

Your name we’d like to know

She smiled all in her countenance

They call me Jack-a-Roe

Oh, they call me Jack-a-Roe

I see your waist is slender

Your fingers they are small

Your cheeks to red and rosy

To face the cannonball

I know my waist is slender

And my fingers they are small

But it would not make me tremble

To see ten thousand fall

To see them fall

The war soon being over

She went and looked around

Among the dead and wounded

Her darling boy she found

Oh, her darling boy she found

She picked him up all in her arms

And carried him to the town

She sent for a physician

Who quickly healed his wounds

Oh, who quickly healed his wounds

This couple they got married

So well they did agree

This couple they got married

So why not you and me?

Oh, why not you and me?