English translation

Once there was a crafty girl Ch: Hurrah, my boy! Hurrah, my boy! Who wanted to go sailing as ordinary seamen, Ch: Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah, my boy! She took service for seven years, Because she didn't fear any danger. She brought her chest and gear aboard, Like a young sailor should. Then she had to climb aloft, Furling the sails with gaskets. But a heavy gale and thunderstorm, Tore the sails from her hands. They tied her to the mast, With her hands and feet fastened. She called: "Captain, don't strike me, I'm your lover, can't you see?" And at that moment they unfastened her, And she was touched with a kiss. Then she went into the cabin, Taking off her sailor clothes. And what happened in the cabin, That the first mate does not know. But before the ship reached shore, A new young sailor had arrived. And, when she came into the town, Where her mother lived, She called: "Mother don't get angry, I've sailed as a young seaman." "With one who loves me true, I have this innocent, little child." "But before it is Whitmonday, I'll be his husband, that's for sure!"

This translation is once again owed to Stan Hugill who categorized the song as a “Dutch ballast-stowing shanty”. Nevertheless, it follows the patterns of English hauling shanties.

Another version, with a different tune and without refrains, is said to be a rather common song among Dutch schoolchildren. In their version, however, the story is said to finish with verse seven. This song, too, comes from Terschelling but was also known on the island of Wieringen (North Holland).

The song came to Hugill through “[his] friends K. Suyk and Kees Hos”.

Whitmonday is an English name for the day after Whitsunday (an English name for Pentecost held sometime in spring).