The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #113841 Message #2425213
Posted By: GUEST,doc.tom
29-Aug-08 - 04:55 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Unto the East Indies We Were Bound
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unto the East Indies We Were Bound
This is set I sing, which comes from Baring-Gould.
Come all you sailors brisk and bold, who plough he raging main, A tragedy I will unfold in story sad and plain; From my true love it's pressed I was, the gallant ship to steer; To the West Indies we were bound with confidence and cheer.
Now a year was past when home at last we turned with swelling sail, But e'er The Ushant over-past there came on us a gale; Our gallant ship about was tossed and swept with wind and foam; The furious tide it thundered so, each thought of wife and home.
Now our Captain being a valiant man, it's on the deck he did stand; "Here's fifty pounds in hand, me boys, to him who first spies the land." The Bos'n up aloft did go, up to the topmast high; More angry did the ocean grow, more menacing the sky.
To make The Stripe in vain we tried, the Scillies rock to clear, For the tide upon that barren coast was filling every ear; "Bear off, bear off before the wind, from Scilly bear away! On the ocean wide, it's pray we bide, until the break of day."
But there came a sharp and sudden shock that filled our hearts with fear; "May the Lord have mercy on our souls," our Captain cried so clear; Eight hundred men were in that ship – it's four got safe to shore; The gallant vessel, good and true, was shattered aft and fore.
And when the news to Plymouth swift did fly, that our good ship was gone, It's wet with tears was many an eye and many a widow lone; My pretty love was wed, I found, to another man than me; Oh gentles all, that live on land, bethink the boys at sea. Oh gentles all, that live on land, bethink the boys at sea.
Interesting variation in the words in all these texts!