We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Jeannie and the Sailor

from Raisin' Heck by Onion Honey

/

about

There's a common story in folk music in which a man leaves his lady love to go to war or to sea or to seek his fortune. In nearly every case, she waits until he returns or until she dies alone.

This is a true story about Esther's grandmother, who did not wait.

lyrics

Red-haired Jeannie was a fine young woman
Went to church most every Sunday and a fine young man had spoken
Said he wanted to make that lady his wife
But before they walked the aisle he'd live a sailor's life

Dear John
You sailed away
Left me here to be a bride another day
Dear John
The rumour's true
Left me here to be another man's too

Young Bill Shearman was a farmer to his bones
Worked in his father's farm and fields and
With his father's honeycombs
Jeannie was a city girl, voice as sweet as sin
Caught his eye one Sunday morning, singing Sunday hymns


Dear John
You sailed away
Left me here to be a bride another day
Dear John
The rumour's true
Left me here to be another man's too

A man who works the honeyhouse is surely sweet and brave
One who can plow the fields is strong and true
But a man who leaves his love behind to sail across the ocean
Don't deserve a fine young woman or that woman's kind devotion

Dear John
You sailed away
Left me here to be a bride another day
Dear John
The rumour's true
Left me here to be another man's too

Driving out one shining day to see what she would say
Said to Jeannie "oh my darling won't you put that ring away"
Jeanne took off that sailor's ring and put it out of sight
And Bill Shearman asked that lady if she'd rather be his wife


Dear John
You sailed away
Left me here to be a bride another day
Dear John
The rumour's true
Left me here to be another man's too

credits

from Raisin' Heck, released July 29, 2017
Words and music - Esther Wheaton

Esther Wheaton - vocals, banjo
Dave Pike - guitar, vocals
Michelle Horel - banjolele, vocals
Stuart Cybulskie - double bass

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Onion Honey image

Onion Honey Waterloo, Ontario

Onion Honey makes folk music, sharp and sweet and mixed in with banjo and mandolin, washboard and double bass, fiddle and warm five-part harmonies. It’s a recipe for a great time and good for what ails, home-cooked comfort food for the ears.

contact / help

Contact Onion Honey

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like Onion Honey, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier chats about his new LP and the influence of Pharoah Sanders.
listen now