William Taylor (song)

$\relative c'' { \clef treble \key d \major \time 2/2 g4 fis4 g8 g8 a8 b8 c8 c8 a4 fis4 d4 g4 fis4 g4 a8 a8 b4 d' a2 } \addlyrics { Will- iam Tay- lor was a brisk young sai- lor, He who court- ed a la- dy fair; }$

"William Taylor" is an old ballad. It was a popular street song in the first half of the 18th century.

Story

Several versions exist,^[1] but the story of the song concerns a young couple due to be wed. On the morning of the wedding, the groom William Taylor (Billy in some versions) is pressed into service. The bride searches for him, disguising herself as a man to become a soldier^[2] or sailor.^[3] When her true gender is revealed (usually in an incident involving accidental exposure of her breasts), the captain points her in the direction of her beloved, but mentions that he now has a new suitor. When she finds him, she shoots him and his new bride. In some versions, she is then rewarded by the captain with command of her own ship.^[4]

Versions

A version is performed by Sean Dagher at the taverns in the video game Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. A version also appears in other games of the series.
German band Bardic released a version on their 2000 album The Roadsmell After the Rain.

References

↑ "William Taylor". Retrieved 17 June 2015.
↑ "William Taylor". Mudcat. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
↑ "William Taylor". Retrieved 17 June 2015.
↑ "Billy Taylor". Mudcat. Retrieved 17 June 2015.

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