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Ellie May

from Home by Fred Smith

supported by
Graeme Morrison
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lyrics

I was on a tall ship sailing south down from Portland Maine
The ship had guns it was ’61 on the 17th of May
Accompanying the Stone Fleet to the mouth of Confederate Charleston Bay
We set a course to reinforce Samuel du Pont’s blockade
Civil War winds were blowing, I was just 17
Didn’t want to die without knowing if you know what I mean
Sailing down the east coast to resupply we turned into Chesapeake Bay
At Hampton News, me and the crew went ashore to play
We stepped into a whorehouse, to carouse, there to spend our pay
I was scared till I got pared with the young one Ellie May
I was eager but nervous, she was sweet for a whore
Like me pressed in to service by the hardship of war
Followed her down a hallway through a dark creaking door,
There we found sweet religion on a mattress on the floor
Woke up the next morning stone the crows there’d held to pay
I had failed – the ship had sailed while I slept with Ellie May
Swear to god I am no deserter, but I’d be tried and sentenced to be hung
If I was found so went to ground in the summer of ‘61
Madam needed a worker, broad of back strong of arm
To clean the bar, change the kegs and kept the girls safe from harm
Out of all that whole crew one survived his name was Bill Coltrane
The rest were killed at Secessionville or the Battle of Mobile Bay
Billy walked into the barroom years had passed it was 1865
Saw my face in its disgrace and said “Jim, I see you’re still alive!”
“I was saving the union, you deserted the boat
I’ll take the young one in the corner, here boy you take my coat”
I said “Billy hold on change of plan, the young one isn’t free
She has a name it’s Ellie May and she belongs to me!”
Billy said “you know I’ve killed men, stand aside, a whore’s a whore’s a whore
I’ll be satisfied now run and hide Jimmy like you did before”
Then he pulled out a dagger, had it up at my throat
I dashed a bottle across his temple, and gave the man back his coat
It was on a warm day in ‘66 when the war was done
I travelled north to Plymouth Port to say hello to Mum
So good to see her old face at the door looking so surprised
The letter had read that I was dead when clearly I was still alive
When she asked for my story, what was I supposed to say
I just said “mother meet my children and my good wife Ellie May”

credits

from Home, released August 30, 2020

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Fred Smith Canberra, Australia

“Fred Smith is simply the best folk/country musician working in this country in 2020. Beyond writing some of the finest songs about Australians at war, he has created a repertoire that is wry, literate, witty, powerfully emotional and insightful.”(Bruce Elder, Sydney Morning Herald). ... more

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