Unfortunate Miss Bailey

Words & Music:

Traditional

  E                              B7

A captain bold from Halifax, who dwelt in country quarters,

  E                                   B7

Seduced a maid who hanged herself one morning in her garters.

    E                                                 B7

His wicked conscience smited him, he lost his stomach daily.

   B7                                             E

He took to drinking ratafia and thought upon Miss Bailey.

 

CHORUS:

E                  A              E

Oh! Miss Bailey, unfortunate Miss Bailey!

E                  A              E

Oh! Miss Bailey, unfortunate Miss Bailey!

 

One night while sleeping on his ship, the captain heard a banging,

He left his bed and went on deck, and saw Miss Bailey hanging.

His candle just at twelve o'clock began to burn quite palely.

And from the mast a ghost stepped down.  Behold!  It was Miss Bailey!

 

CHORUS:

 

"Away, Miss Bailey," he implored, "You don't affright me, really."

"Dear Captain Smith," the ghost replied, "you've used me ungenteely.

The coroner was hard on me, because I acted frailly,

And Parson Biggs won't bury me, Ôthough I'm a dead Miss Bailey."

 

CHORUS:

 

You won't believe me when I say, the captain got soft-hearted.

He gave the ghost a five-pound note, with which she then departed.

"'Twill bribe the sexton for my grave, and so I leave thee gaily,

Oh bless you, wicked Captain Smith!  Remember poor Miss Bailey."

 

CHORUS:

 





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