I haven't seen a transcription of Rabbit Brown's version, so here's how I hear it. I think it's mostly right - damn sight easier than trying to decipher Charlie Poole or Uncle Dave on occasions - but the word delineating where the women and children were taken from escapes me - sounds like 'store'. Any ideas? Don't you love Brown's Blind Willie Johnson-like rendition of 'Nearer'?


SINKING OF THE TITANIC
(Richard 'Rabbit' Brown)

It was on the 10th of April on a sunny afternoon
The Titanic left Southhampton, each one as happy as a bride and groom
No one thought of danger or what their fate may be
Until a gruesome iceberg caused 1500 to perish in the sea

It was early Monday morning, just about the break of day
Captain said call for help from the Carpathia and it was many miles away
Everyone was calm and silent, asked each other what the trouble may be
Not thinking that death was lurking there upon that northern sea

The Carpathia received the wireless SOS re distress
Come at once, we are sinking, make no delay and do your best
Get the lifeboats all in readiness 'cos we're going down very fast
We have saved the women and the children and tried to hold out to the last

Now at last they called out all the passengers, told them to hurry to the deck
Then they realised that the mighty Titanic was about to be a wreck
They lowered the lifeboats one by one, taking women and children from the ?
The poor men are left to care for themselves but they sure played a hero's part

You know they stood out on that sinking deck and they was all in great despair
You know accidents may happen most anytime and we know not when and where
The music played as they went down on that dark blue sea
And you could hear the sound of that familiar hymn, singing 'Nearer my God to Thee'

Nearer my God to thee
Nearer my God to thee
Nearer my God to thee
Nearer to thee
Though like a wanderer
As the sun goes down
Darkness be over me
Just then the Titanic went down

Source: Richard 'Rabbit' Brown 'Sinking of the Titanic' Reissued on Various Artists 'Times Ain't What They Used to Be Vol 1' Yazoo 2028
PS

Cheers, Stewie. ^^