Maid on the Shore - Michael Kelly - (Traditional - Roud

This traditional Irish folk song (Roud #181) has many variants, and the one that I learned was, like many, the one that was covered by Stan Rogers.
While I'd always taken this song at face value as being a lighthearted tale about a clever maiden that gets the better of a ship's captain and crew, I recently came across a slightly different (and darker) interpretation of it.
Some elements of the song bear close resemblance to stories of sirens, mythological creatures that lure sailers to their deaths with their singing. Enough so that some old versions of this song are titled 'the Mermaid'.
It's possible that what the sailors brought aboard was not an innocent young lady but actually a siren, and the sleep that she lulled them into with her singing was the sleep of death.
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"MAID ON THE SHORE" - Traditional (Roud #181)
There is a young maiden, she lives all alone
She lived all alone by the shore-o
There's nothing she can find to comfort her mind
But to roam all alone by the shore, shore, shore
But to roam all alone by the shore-o
'Twas of the young Captain who sailed the salt sea
Let the wind blow high, blow low
I will die, I will die, the young Captain did cry
If I don't have that maid on the shore, shore, shore ...
If I don't have that maid on the shore-o
I have lots of silver, I have lots of gold
I have lots of costly ware-o
I'll divide, I'll divide, with my jolly ship's crew
If they row me that maid on the shore, shore, shore ...
If they row me that maid on the shore-o
After much persuasion, they got her aboard
Let the wind blow high, blow low
They replaced her away in his cabin below
Here's adieu to all sorrow and care, care, care ...
Here's adieu to all sorrow and care-o
They replaced her away in his cabin below
Let the wind blow high, blow low
She's so pretty and neat, she's so sweet and complete
She's sung Captain and sailors to sleep, sleep, sleep ...
She's sung Captain and sailors to sleep-o
Then she robbed him of silver, she robbed him of gold
She robbed him of costly ware-o
Then took his broadsword instead of an oar
And paddled her way to the shore, shore, shore ...
And she paddled her way to the shore-o
Me men must be crazy, me men must be mad
Me men must be deep in despair-o
For to let you away from my cabin so gay
And to paddle your way to the shore, shore, shore ...
And to paddle your way to the shore-o
Your men be not crazy, your men be not mad
Your men be not deep in despair-o
I deluded your sailors as well as yourself
I'm a maiden again on the shore, shore, shore ...
I'm a maid once again by the shore-o
There is a young maiden, she lives all alone
She lived all alone by the shore-o
There's nothing she can find to comfort her mind
But to roam all alone by the shore, shore, shore
But to roam all alone by the shore-o

[@hippyjoe]

Can't hear it without hearing Stan Rogers in my head xD

[@groggu]

Beautiful rendition of this classic. Please create more music.

[@mikesands4681]

Ive loved this song since SCA in 1991

[@postacorona6746]

The more of your videos I listen to the more I enjoy your singing.

[@thegreatselkie6009]

I adore Michael Kelly’s music! 💚💚💚

[@jasonfowler7709]

I honestly hope you never stop singing or making CZcams videos. You are a VERY talented musician.

[@brumbybailey6599]

It's my birthday and I'm riding my horse in the bush with beautiful weather, didn't think the day could get much better. But you changed that. 😊

[@vikik897]

How come this has so few views&likes? What the heck? It's fantastic! Such an enchanting voice!

[@chemabarbado540]

Awesome performed the maid on the shore, thank you very much Michael, for this and for the lirycs too!!!

[@christinebordes9991]

Thank you, beautifully performed this Irish folk song.
Thanks also for the lyrics.

[@michaelnewton788]

Epic voice.

[@eetfuk4664]

sounds fantastic!

[@ferrisburgh802]

Great song and well done...

[@poeticider]

This song is from Newfoundland, not Ireland ^
It found it's way from the new world to Britain and Ireland

[@kalamir93]

Wonderful!

[@BardMichaelKelly]

I play by ear. I've never actually learned how to read music.

[@kalamir93]

@@BardMichaelKelly Ah, okay! Thank you kindly! :)