Kate Bush

Released: February 24, 1986

Songwriter: Traditional

Producer: Kate Bush

[Verse 1]
It's of a pretty female, as you may understand
Her mind being bent for rambling unto some foreign land
She dressed herself in sailor's clothes, or so it does appear
And she hired with a captain to serve him for a year

[Verse 2]
Her cheeks they were like roses and her hair rolled in a curl
The sailors often smiled and said he looked just like a girl
But eating of the captain's biscuit her colour did destroy
And the waist did swell of pretty Nell, the handsome cabin boy

[Verse 3]
It was in the bay of Biscay our gallant ship did plough
One night among the sailors was a fearful flurry and row
They tumbled from their hammocks for their sleep it did destroy
And they sworn about the groaning of the handsome cabin boy

[Verse 4]
"Oh doctor, dear, oh doctor," the cabin boy did cry
"My time has come, I am undone and I will surely die"
The doctor come a-runnin' and a-smilin' at the fun
To think a sailor lad should have a daughter or a son

[Verse 5]
The sailors when they saw the joke they all did stand and stare
The child belonged to none of them they solemnly did swear
The captain's wife, she says to him, "My dear, I wish you joy
For 'tis either you or me's betrayed the handsome cabin boy"

Kate Bush is an art pop singer and songwriter from Bexleyheath, a suburb of London, England. Her debut single “Wuthering Heights” hit number one on the UK charts in 1978, winning her a Brit award for best female performance, and propelling her into fame.

She went on to write, record and produce ten studio albums including her UK bestselling fifth album, Hounds of Love in 1985.

She is known for her experimental musical style and live performances, but has only toured twice – first in 1979 then 35 years later in 2014 – both of which have received releases in the form of either an EP, LP and/or video.

more tracks from the album

This Woman’s Work: Anthology 1978-1990

From the albums

This Woman’s Work: Anthology 1978-1990 (1990)
In Others’ Words (2018)

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Kate Bush

This Woman’s Work: Anthology 1978-1990