These lyrics describe a story of a Siren named Maria. Maria's jolly sailor bold is a man who lives in England. I have inferred this by the lines "His hair it does in ringlets", as many men in England during this time wore wigs with ringlets and the line "My father is a merchant — the truth I now will tell, And in great London City". Maria falls in love with the sailor; The sailor becomes her jolly sailor bold. This song is sung by Sirens to lure sailors to them. This song, when sung by sailors, represents the sailors hope to become a jolly sailor bold. When this song is sung by sirens, it represents a warning that Sirens are dangerous creatures.
