Lyr Add: The Old Smythe

Subject: The Old Smythe
From: 1979
Date: 10 Jun 00 - 10:11 PM

The Old Smythe

Down in the bay last winter, I'm going to explain
On board a yankee vessel the Old Smythe was her name
With anchors weighed and canvass set make ready for to go
With a load of frozen herring she looked beautiful you know


Now passing by St. Pierre we had a lovely time
Up springs a strong nor'easter, most seldom do you find
Then the wind veered off bout nor' nor'west and it blew a violent gale
And our captain he gave orders to close reef every sail


We tried her under a double reed but nothing would she do
And under a full reef foresail were forced to heave her to
And under a full reef foresail our vessel she lay by
Our lives on on the ocean now will we live or die


For twenty-four long hours that hurricane did last
At eight o'clock that evening the gale it came down fast
And on our noble vessel we quickly crowded sail
And for twenty-four long hours we ran before the gale


At eight o'clock next evening, the second watch that night
Our man up in the lookout said that he had spied a light
Our captain he'd just gone below got ready to turn in
Came up on deck gave orders to haul her by the wind


He then got our his sheet and charts and he brought our vessel bout
And by his rightful reckoning to see how far we're out
It must of been some steamers lights you fellows saw just then
We'll try her under another watch so haul her off again
Scarce had these words been spoken and we were standing by
When our man up in the lookout cried BREAKERS AHOY!
And that we will not clear them let every man stand by
And on that reef of rugged rocks we run her high and dry


Now when we hit them rugged rock sure things looked rather blue
To see our men like monkeys, up rattlens they flew
With two up in her main riggin', and four more in her ford
It's there they saved their precious lives by the mercy of our lord