Origins: Why Don't My Father's Ship Come In

Subject: Origins: Information on a Song
From: GUEST,BEER (Adrien )
Date: 08 Dec 24 - 10:23 PM

I'm at a loss and bingo!! Thought of Mudcat. About 5 years ago my brother whom has now passed away sang me an old folk song which I had never heard before. He could not remember the title or other verses to it. Here is what I wrote down and hope that it will strike a spark with someone here. Thank you in advance and hello to all Mudcatter's who may remember me. Beer

Oh mother dear come tell to me, tell me the reason why.
Why don’t my father’s ship come in,
Why do you weep and cry.
Your father’s ship my gentle son, his face no more shall see.
For the winds did blow a hurricane,
Swept his body into the sea.
And since you are my only child, I’ll hold you to my breast.
Let the ocean waves sweep over his grave,
I hope his souls at rest.

Subject: RE: Origins: Information on a Song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Dec 24 - 10:40 PM

I don't know the song and it didn't come up in my usual searches, Adrien, but it's so nice to see you. I hope life is treating you well.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: Information on a Song
From: cnd
Date: 08 Dec 24 - 10:41 PM

Appears to be "Why Don't My Father's Ship Come In," RoudFS/S570926 -- apparently it's related to Roud 2793 (Two Little Girls In Blue) but I'm not immediately seeing the tie... I can transcribe it tomorrow if no one else is interested in trying first.

https://archives.novascotia.ca/creighton/audio/?Search=5121&t=00:07:37

Subject: RE: Origins: Information on a Song
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 08 Dec 24 - 11:40 PM

Roud 2973, not 2793

Subject: RE: Origins: Information on a Song
From: Robert B. Waltz
Date: 09 Dec 24 - 04:06 AM

It's well-known in Newfoundland tradition, though I don't know where it originated. There are a few collections beyond Newfoundland. Also known as "The Gentle Boy." Lots of Newfoundland collections:

Gentle Boy, The (Why Don't Father's Ship Come In)

DESCRIPTION: "As I roved out one evening As I sat down to rest, I saw a boy scarce four years old Sleep on his mother's breast." They tell about his father who sailed away and was lost in a hurricane. "They cast their eyes to heaven and son and mother died."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1929 (Greenleaf/Mansfield-BalladsAndSeaSongsOfNewfoundland)
KEYWORDS: grief parting death sea disaster storm wreck baby mother father separation sailor
FOUND IN: Canada(Newf) US(MA,NE)
REFERENCES (6 citations):
Greenleaf/Mansfield-BalladsAndSeaSongsOfNewfoundland 113, "The Gentle Boy" (1 text)
Peacock, pp. 795-796, "The Ship That Never Came" (1 text, 1 tune)
Guigné-ForgottenSongsOfTheNewfoundlandOutports, pp. 330-331, "The Ship That Never Came (The Gentle Boy)" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lehr/Best-ComeAndIWillSingYou 120, "Why Don't Father's Ship Come In?" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lane/Gosbee-SongsOfShipsAndSailors, p. 37, "Why Don't My Father's Ship Come In?" (1 text, 1 tune)
Bethke-AdirondackVoices, p. 117, "The Gentle Boy" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #2973
RECORDINGS:
John James, "My Daddy's Ship" (on MUNFLA/Leach)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Rocks of Scilly" [Laws K8] (theme)
File: GrMa113

Subject: RE: Origins: Information on a Song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Dec 24 - 04:50 AM

Adrien, check in so I know you're following this. Email me if you you help logging in.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Origins: Information on a Song
From: cnd
Date: 09 Dec 24 - 07:48 AM

GUEST,Guest, you're likely right, but for some reason the VWML entry of the song I checked has 2793 -- https://archives.vwml.org/songs/RoudFS/S495789

Subject: RE: Origins: Information on a Song
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Dec 24 - 08:37 AM

Thanks Joe, and a great big thank you to the folks who found it. Means a lot to me and will also to family members. Over the years our family (14) whom are all musicians to a degree have held countless kitchen parties many of them just spontaneous as this is what happens in a musical family. But never has this song come up. I was totally floored when brother John started singing it. Again thank you all and you have given me the inspiration to join again.

Subject: ADD: Why Don't My Father's Ship Come In
From: cnd
Date: 09 Dec 24 - 04:56 PM

Here's my transcription from the link above. Performed by Edmund Henneberry at Eastern Passage, Halifax Co., Nova Scotia 6 June 1948.

Why Don't My Father's Ship Come In

It's well I do remember when they laid me down to sleep
A gentle child, but three years old, in his mothers arms did weep
Saying "onced I had a father who did me kind embrace
And if he was here, he'd wipe those tears that go down my mother's face"

Oh, mother, dear, come tell to me, come tell me the reason why
Why don't my father's ship come in? Why do you weep and cry?
All of the ships are coming in, plowing the white, white foam
And why don't my father's ship come in? Why does he tarry long?

Your father's ship, my gentle child, you never shall see again
For the hurricanes of the ocean sweeped his body o'er the main
And the fishes of the ocean swims over your father's breast
While his body lies all motionless, I hope his soul's at rest

It's well I do remember when he took me on his knee
Saying "This, my son, is a banyan fruit from the far-off Indian Tree"
It's well I do remember when he waved his hat in hand
And the very last words "God bless you both" as the ship sailed down the strand

Oh, the ocean is deep and fathomless as the earth is from the sky
There is a home in Heaven above, for you, my son, and I
And since you're the only one that's left, I'll hold you to my side
And they both lie down together and the son and mother cried

Subject: RE: Origins: Information on a Song
From: cnd
Date: 09 Dec 24 - 05:02 PM

Here's another version, from Ballads and Sea Songs of Newfoundland (Elisabeth Bristol Greenleaf, 1933, pp. 224-225)

THE GENTLE BOY
Sung by Stephen White, Sandy Cove, 1929

As I roved out one evening
As I sat down to rest,
I saw a boy scarce four years old
Sleep on his mother's breast.
" 'Twas once I had a father dear
Who did us fond embrace,
If he was here to wipe the tears
Roll down my mother's face.

" 'Twas once I had a father dear;
He took us both to see
With colors red and white sails spread
O'er the deep blue summer's sea.
That time I do remember well,
As he sailed from the strand,
His last word was "God bless you both
Till I returns to land."

"Now all the ships are coming inm
Dear mother, tell me why,
Why don't my father's ship return?
Why do you weep and cry?
Now all the ships are coming in,
Part in their wives safe home;
Why don't my father's ship return,
And why don't he come home?"

"Your father's ship, my gentle boys,
Long time have crossed the main,
Till a hurricane the ocean swept;
You'll never see him again.
Your father's ship, my gentle boy
Are dashed beneath the wave,
Where loudly roared the cannon;
Ships sail over your father's grave.

"There is a burden from him brought,
I fold it to my side.
There is a home for you and I
That lives beyond the skies.
There is a burden from him brought
I fold it to my side."
They cast their eyes to heaven,
And son and mother died.

Subject: RE: Origins: Information on a Song
From: cnd
Date: 09 Dec 24 - 05:09 PM

Oops, forgot to close my italicization above -- could someone please assist me with the clean-up?

Here's another version, printed in Iowa News (DuBuque, Wisconsin Territory) on July 29th, 1837, p.4 (link)

THE QUESTION

"Where does my father stay so long,
Mother from you and I?
Why does he not return again?
Why do you weep and sigh?
Three months, you said, he would remain,
And leave us all aloneL
Yet by the winter's storm and snow,
Twelve months have passed and gone.

"Where is his tall and gallant ship
You took me once to see;
Its colors deck'd, its white sails speck'd
The deep blue summers sea?
Mother, I think I see him now,
He waved his hat and hand,
His last words were --- 'God bless you both;'
When we stood on the strand.

"How well I now remember him,
He held me on his knee,
There is a bird and fruit he brought
From the far off Indian tree;
All other ships are coming in,
Parting the white waves foam:
When will my father's ship return,
Or when will he come home?"

"Thy father tarried long, my child,
Upon the distant main;
The hurricane the ocean swept,
He'll ne'er return again.
His gallant ship, my gentle boy,
It rests beneath yon wave;
That placid, calm and shining sea
Flows o'er thy father's grave!"

"Again you weep, my mother dear,
Shall we not see him more?"
"Ask if the deep and fathomless
The dead again restore.
My child, thou art the only tie
This world has left to me,
There is a heaven beyond the sky,
A home for him and thee."

Subject: RE: Origins: Why Don't My Father's Ship Come In
From: cnd
Date: 09 Dec 24 - 08:41 PM

Theophilus Richmond implies that he composed the song in a September 3rd, 1837 journal entry -- that seems unlikely, given the previously-cited publication antedating by a few weeks (as well as an earlier identical edition in The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, March 3rd 1837, p. 4). Most likely, I think he is taking credit only for the latter half of the verse. From The first crossing : being the diary of Theophilus Richmond, ship's surgeon aboard the Hesperus, 1837-8, pp. 90-92

The last few days have been so dreadfully cold, damp & disagreeable that I have done little else but lie between blankets sometimes reading and sometimes composing; my thoughts were directed towards the latter recreation by a letter that Mrs W. read to me, but being too long to describe in prose, I shall attempt it (for the lack of other matter) in verse — The subject is rather melancholy, but I never read anything more beautifully described than a child's deathbed was in that letter.

The Widow and her Child
Part 1st = The Questioner =

Where does my Father stay so long,
Mother from you and I?
Why does he not return again,
Why do you weep and sigh?
Three months you said he would remain
And leave us all alone,
Yet by the winter's storm and snow,
Twelve months are past and gone.

How well I now remember him,
As he held me on his knee,
There is the lovely bird he brought
From the far Indian tree.
All other ships are coming in
Parting the white waves' foam,
When will my Father's ship return,
Oh! when will he come home?

Thy Father tarried long my child,
Upon the distant main,
The hurricane the ocean swept
He'll ne'er return again.
His gallant bark my gentle boy,
Now rests beneath the wave,
That placid, calm and smiling sea,
Flows o'er thy Father's grave.

Again you weep my Mother dear,
Shall we not see him more?
"Ask if the deep and fathomless,
The dead again restore.
Sweet child thou art the only tie
The world has left to me,
But he from Heaven beyond that sky,
Will watch and smile o'er thee."

Part 2nd = The Dreamer =
Oh Mother, dear Mother what dreams of delight,
Here brightened and gladden'd my slumbers tonight!
Me thought the kind Father we mourn for as dead
Had returned to our dwelling and stood by my bed.
He questioned me much on the paths I had trod,
Of affection to you and obedience to God:
And my answers he seem'd so rejoiced to obtain,
And said that ere long I should meet him again.

The Mother felt faint and desponding of heart,
She looked on her child and she knew they must part,
For the flush on his cheek and the light in his eye,
Foretold that the sweet one was destined to die.
One murmuring thought on her trial she cast,
But she sunk on her knees—the temptation was past,
And she sobbed forth while clasping the hand of her son,
"Let thy will not mine blessed Saviour be done".

Night came—the fair boy was reposing in sleep,
His Mother sat near him to watch and to weep:
The Volume of Life her sad vigils beguiled,
As she turned o'er its pages, and look'd on her child:
On his young lip a smile now appeared to arise,
And he suddenly opened his radiant eyes,
Then stretched forth his arms as tho' called to his home,
And softly he whispered, "Dear Father I come".

Life fled in that moment—all cares were in vain,
Friends came at the tidings, a sorrowing train;
They wept for the sweet playful child they had known,
But more for the widow deserted and lone.
Yet not without hope her affliction deplore,
For the God who has taken can also restore,
And the desolate widow has trust in his love,
Who can call her to join the dear lost ones above.