| It's of a pretty female as you will understandHer mind was set on roving into a foreign land
 She dressed herself in man's attire and boldly did appear
 And she engaged with a captain to serve him for a year.
 
 The captain's lady being on board, she seemed in great joy
 To think the captain had engaged such a handsome cabin boy
 And many's the time she cuddled and kissed, and she would have liked to toy
 But 'twas the captain found out the secret of the handsome cabin boy
 
 Her cheeks they were like roses, her hair was all a-curl
 The sailors often smiled and said, He looks just like a girl
 But eating the captain's biscuit, well, her color it did destroy
 And the waist did swell of pretty Nell, the handsome cabin boy.
 
 As through the Bay of Biscay our gallant ship did plough
 One night among the sailors there came an awful row
 They tumbled from their hammocks for their rest it did destroy
 They complained about the groaning of the handsome cabin boy
 
 It's doctor, dearest doctor, the cabin boy did cry
 My time has come, I am undone, surely I must die
 The doctor ran with all his might, a-smiling at the fun
 For to think a cabin boy could have a daughter or a son
 
 Now when the sailors heard the joke, they all began to stare
 The child belongs to none of us, they solemnly did swear
 And the lady to the captain said, My dear I wish you joy
 For it was either you or I betrayed the handsome cabin boy.
 
 Come all of you bold fellows and we'll drink success to trade
 And likewise to the cabin boy who was neither man nor maid
 And if the wars should rise again, us sailors to destroy
 Well, here's hoping for a jolly lot more like the handsome cabin boy.
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