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

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

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

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

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