Fisherman's Boy
John Tobias Pearson singing Poor Fisherman's Boy
Down in the lowlands a poor boy did wander,
Down in the lowlands a poor boy he did roam,
By his friends he was neglected, and he looked so rejected,
Oh that poor little fisherman's boy so far away from home.
Oh, where is your mother, oh, where is your father?;
"Alas they are gone, and it causes me to roam.
My mother died on the pillow, my father sank in the billows,
I'm a poor little fisherman's boy so far away from home."
Dark was the night and how loudly roared the thunder,
The lightning did flash, and the ship was overcome.
The mast I clasped around for to reach my native ground,
Lost my father in the deep and so far away from home.
He waited on the shore, til the water rose around him,
He waited on the shore, but alas, no father came;
"Now I am a ranger, exposed to every danger",
Cried that poor little fisherman's boy so far away from home.
A lady when she heard him, she opened up her window,
And in her kindest manner, she begged him to come in;
The tears fell from her eyes as she heard his mournful cries,
Of that poor little fisherman's boy so far away from home.
She begged of her father to find him some employment,
She begged of her father no more to let him roam;
Her father said "Don't grieve thee, this boy shall never leave me,
Oh the poor little fisherman's boy so far away from home.
Now many years he labored to serve his noble master,
Now many years he labored until a man became;
And now he tells each stranger the hardships and the danger,
Of a poor little fisherman's boy, so far away from home.