Origins Ship That Never Returned (Henry Clay Work)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SHIP THAT NEVER RETURNED (H C Work)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 13 Jan 02 - 11:31 PM

The version of "SHIP THAT NEVER RETURNED" in the DT is a little diffferent from the original (1864), which is HERE with lyrics and MIDI (the 1884 edition is in The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music, as mentioned above by Guest):

THE SHIP THAT NEVER RETURNED (1884)
Song and Chorus.
Words and Music by Henry Clay Work.

1. On a summer's day, when the wave was rippled
By the softest gentlest breeze,
Did a ship not sail, with a cargo laden
For a port beyond the seas;
There were sweet farewells -- there were loving signals,
While a form was yet discern'd;
Though they know it not, 'twas a solemn parting,
For the ship -- she never return'd.

CHORUS: Did she never return? She never return'd --
Her fate it is yet unlearn'd;
Tho' for years and years there were fond ones watching,
Yet the ship -- she never return'd.

2. Said a feeble lad to his anxious mother,
"I must cross the wide, wide sea;
For they say, perchance in a foreign climate
There is health and strength for me."
'Twas a gleam of hope in a maze of danger,
And her heart for her youngest yearn'd;
Yet she sent him forth with a smile and blessing
On the ship that never return'd. (CHORUS)

3. "Only one more trip," said a gallant seaman,
As he kiss'd his weeping wife;
Only one more bag of the golden treasure,
And 'twill last us all through life.
Then I'll spend my days in my cozy cottage,
And enjoy the rest I've earn'd;
But alas, poor man! for he sailed commander
Of the ship that never return'd. (CHORUS)

~Masato

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Bradley Kincaid recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N7hdi9ZrnA

Doc Watson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERRSQVwLs2M