American | Australian | Beatles | Canadian | Ceilidh | Childrens' | Chinese | Dutch | English | French | German | Gospel | Irish | NZ | Norwegian | Other | Platt | Pub | Sacred Harp | Scots | Sea Songs | Tyneside | Welsh | Yorkshire |
 
The Sailor's Return
Last updated: 22.01.22
"The Sailor's Return" is another sea song that can be found in The Valiant Sailor by Roy Palmer. This is a longish ballad of a sailor returning home after seven years and not being recognised by his intended. He thereupon tests her felicity and all turns out well for a happy ending.
This song is explained in detail at John Roberts and Tony Barrand's interesting site on "Lincolnshire Folksongs collected by Percy Grainger". They give other titles however, namely "A maiden walking" or "The Brisk Young Sailor (who returned to wed his true love)". By the way, Percy A. Grainger is a namesake and I am not in any way related to this famous Australian-born composer. (I am often asked)