The sheet music can be viewed at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music. (Click for a PDF.)

[The lyrics are only slightly different from those already posted, but I think it's useful to have a copy without all those hyphens; these lyrics will be more easily found with a search engine.]


WRECK OFF CHARLESTO'N BRIDGE
or
WILL JONES AND SUSAN JANE.
Billy Morris
Boston: G.D. Russell & Company, 1867.

1. 'Twas about two thousand years ago
On a fine but rainy day.
A smart young chap named William Jones
Was bound for Australia.
So he went on board of a penny steamboat
To cross the ocean main,
And he bid adieu to Boston Bar,
Likewise to his Susan Jane.

CHORUS: Singing, "Fare ye well, my Susan dear.
I may never see you more.
Oh, my heart's in a commotion;
I'm a-going across the ocean
Where the winds and waters roar."

2. When the ship arove off Charlesto'n bridge,
An angry storm arose.
At first the wind it got to words
And then it came to blows.
Poor William Jones felt rather queer.
(He looked as though in pain.)
He thought of the land where he was born,
Also of Susan Jane.

CHORUS: Sighing, "Fare ye well...."

3. The gallant Captain rushed on deck
With frenzy in one eye.
Cried he, "Stand by the main jib-boom!
My bold brave crew, stand by!"
The noble crew stood by some time.
'Twas useless. It was vain.
The storm raged wild. Poor William dropped
A tear to Susan Jane.

CHORUS: Sobbing, "Fare ye well...."

4. Will rushed below unto his trunk
And opened wide the lid,
Then kissed his Susan's portrait twice.
(He kissed it twice, he did.)
The Captain hailed a passing barge
For assistance, all in vain,
For the ship went down with crew and Will
Who loved fair Susan Jane.

CHORUS: Gurgling, "Fare ye well...."

5. When the news was broke to Susan how
Her William had been drowned,
She broke out all over in fainting fits.
Her anguish knew no bound.
Said she, "With sorrow I'll go mad,
Or else I'll go insane!!
For I did so love my William and
He loved his Susan Jane."

CHORUS: And on parting he said, "Fare ye well...."

6. One night as Susan sat in grief
For the loss of her Will Jones,
There came a knock at the front door bell.
Cried she, "Them voice! That tones!"
It was her Will. He was not dead,
But had come back again,
And violently threw his arms around
The neck of Susan Jane.

CHORUS: Singing, "I'll no more say farewell, Susan dear,
For I'll never leave you more,
My heart's in a commotion.
To the dickens with the ocean,
And the winds and waves that roar."