There was a wealthy merchant, in London he did dwell
He had a lovely 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 ever be
Oh her true love ever be

Jackie's gone a sailing, with trouble on his mind
To leave his native country and his darling girl behind
Oh his darling girl behind

She went down to a tailor shop and dressed in man's array
And step on board a vessel to convey herself away
Oh convey herself away

Before you step on board sir, your name we'd like to know
She smiled on her countenance, they call me Jack-A-Roe
Oh they call me Jack-A-Roe

Your waist is light and slender, your fingers neat and small
Your cheeks too red and rosy to face the cannonball
Oh to face the cannonball

I know my waist is slender, my fingers neat and small
it would not make me tremble to see ten thousand fall
Oh to see ten thousand fall

The war soon being over they haunted all around
among the dead and dieing her darling boy she found
Oh her darling boy she found

She picked him up on in her arms and carried him to the town
and sent for a physician to quickly heal his wounds
Oh to quickly heal his wounds

This couple they got married and well they did agree
This couple they got married so why not you and me?
Oh why not you and me?
Oh why not you and me?


Lyrics submitted by MrMoo, edited by MountainFairy

Jackaroe song meanings
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