Lyr. Add: O BURY ME DOWN BY THE RIVER'S SIDE
Nathan Barker, 1855
1
O bury me down by the river's side,
Where the gentle wavelets murm'ring glide,
Where the blue-eyed violets sweetly spring,
And the birds in the willows my requiem sing.
'Twill not be lonely there I know,
Where the peaceful waters gently flow,
And the wild flow'rs bloom and the grass will wave
O'er the lovely spot, where you'll make my grave,
O'er the lovely spot, where you'll make my grave.
2
Yes, lay me there when my voice is still,
When my throbbing heart is cold and still;
'Tis a quiet spot and I love it well,
When my end has come, Oh, there let me dwell.
I could not sleep in the churchyard old,
It is lonely there and the earth is cold--
Then chide me not if I long to rest
In the sunny spot I have loved the best,
In the sunny spot I have loved the best.
3
'Tis near my home, I could not bear
To be far away from loved ones there,
For a thousand bonds are around my heart,
They are stronger than death and they cannot start.
'Tis a little way- ye will shortly come,
I fear not now I am almost home--
But tell me now that my grave shall be
In the quiet spot, 'neath the willow tree,
In the quiet spot, 'neath the willow tree.

Nathan Parker, Parker Family. Oliver Ditson, Boston, 1855.
Sheet music at American Memory. The music is similar to that of "The Dying Cowboy," or "O Bury Me Not On the Lone Prairie."

The Parker song was printed some five years after "Ocean Burial" by E. H. Chapin (1839) was set to music and published by Oliver Ditson in 1850. According to the Traditional Ballad Index, the 1850 sheet music tune is not the same as used in "Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie" (Dying Cowboy), and it maintains that the music must be listed as "by unknown."

"Ocean Burial" is in the DT, credited to George N. Allen whose name is on the 1850 sheet music, but E. H. Chapin should be credited with the lyrics. See post by rich r, up above a ways, for details.

"Ocean Burial" was distributed on at least one song sheet, printed by H. De Masran, NY, no date (mid-19th c.), no author cited. Copy at American Memory.