Ballad: The wind blows towards the lee, Willow! But though I sigh and sob and cry, No Lady Jane for me, Willow!

In the ballad from “The Bab Ballads,” the sorrowful tale of young Joe, a sailor under the command of Captain Joyce, unfolds with a melancholy tune. Joe laments his unrequited love for Lady Jane, believing his lowly status as a sailor to be the barrier between them. Captain Joyce, frustrated with Joe’s constant mourning and banjo-playing, wishes Joe had chosen a different path, perhaps less musical and more befitting a sailor.

Despite Captain Joyce’s harsh methods of discipline, including a sentence of twelve months in solitary confinement and regular lashings, Joe’s spirits remain anchored to Lady Jane. In a twist of fate and friendship, Joe’s loyal mate, a sturdy and reliable sailor of lower rank, proposes a bold plan to unite the love-struck sailor with his noble beloved. This plan involves approaching the First Lord to plead Joe’s case and request his daughter’s hand on Joe’s behalf—a brave act of loyalty and friendship.

The devoted friend not only plans to speak to the Lord about the unjust punishment inflicted by Captain Joyce but also to suggest a marriage between Joe and Lady Jane as a means to liberate Joe. Amidst his suffering, Joe expresses sincere gratitude and hope when his friend pledges to speak to the First Lord, showing a glimmer of hope in his otherwise dim circumstances.

This poignant ballad captures the essence of unyielding love, steadfast loyalty, and the sharp disparities of social class. Through the allegorical use of nautical life, it explores the themes of authority versus compassion, the pursuit of love against all odds, and the power of friendship in the face of adversity. The sailor’s resolve to fight for love and freedom, with the help of a true friend, weaves a narrative that is as heart-wrenching as it is inspiring.