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Parent Category: Music

Category: Ernie Wilson

Captain Ernie Wilson was born on Septemer 1, 1920, the son of Paul and Jane (McCarthy) Wilson of Little Merasheen.  He is probably best known as the author of the song, Merasheen Isle Farewell.

 Captain Ernie Wilson signing Maggie May

Maggie May

Now gather round you sailor boys, and listen to my plea
And when you've heard my tale you'll pity me
For I was a bloody fool in the port of Liverpool
The first time that I came home from the sea.

I paid off by the Home from a voyage to Sierra Leone
And five pounds a month was all they paid
With a pocket full of tin I was very soon taken in
By a girl with the name of Maggie May.

Oh Maggie, Maggie May they have taken her away
And she'll never walk down Lime street anymore
For she robbed so many sailors and captains of the whalers
That dirty, robbin' no good Maggie May.

Oh well I do remember when I first met Maggie May
She was cruising up and down old Canning Place
She'd a figure so divine, like a frigate of the line
So me being a sailor , I gave chase.

Oh Maggie, Maggie May they have taken her away
And she'll never walk down Lime street anymore
For she robbed so many sailors and captains of the whalers
That dirty, robbin' no good Maggie May.

Next morning when I awoke I was flat and stoney broke
No jacket, trousers, waistcoat could I find
When I asked her where they were she said "My dear sir,
They're down in Kelly's pawnshop number nine".

To the pawnshop I did go but no clothes there I did find and
The policeman came and took that girl away
The judge he guilty found her, of robbing the homeward-bounder
And paid her passage down to Botany Bay.

Oh Maggie, Maggie May they have taken her away
And she'll never walk down Lime street anymore
For she robbed so many sailors and captains of the whalers
That dirty, robbin' no good Maggie May.

Oh Maggie, Maggie May they have taken her away
And she'll never walk down Lime street anymore
For she robbed so many sailors and captains of the whalers
That dirty, robbin' no good Maggie May.