Lyr Req: Southern Cross

Subject: Southern Cross
From:
Date: 10 Feb 02 - 02:02 PM

I took the liberty of making a new request as this was embedded in another one.

Here are some words to the Southern Cross song about sealing in Newfoundland. I know there are other songs by that name.

We got up steam in early March and shortly did embark
To try our fortune on the bay in charge of Captain Clark
We boarded a hundred and seventeen ? men of a strong and vigorous race
Some from St. John's and Brigus and more from Harbor Grace

..

thought I new more but I guess I forgot it. mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Southern Cross
From:
Date: 10 Feb 02 - 04:07 PM

here are the words on a Cassie Brown website. She wrote "Death on the Ice" which has my highest recommendation.

http://134.153.160.118/e4142f00/mdymond/dymond1.html

To hear the tune, I suggest doing a google search under Anita Best and Southern Cross and see if she has perchance recorded it.

mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Southern Cross
From: Vinland
Date: 10 Feb 02 - 11:37 PM

mg,

The Southern Cross appears in many collections - Gerald S. Doyles' "Old -time Songs of Nfld", Ken Peacock's "Songs of the Nfld Outports" and "Favourite Songs of Nfld". I collected a version myself in Placentia Bay in the 70's. There are several tunes to the lyrics, though the Doyle one is my favourite. I'm presently doing an arrangements of it, and can email a midi version if you'd like to hear it. Just PM me.

I'm quite sure Anita Best hasn't recorded it, though I think I heard her do a version - I'll ask her next time I see her.

EW

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SOUTHERN CROSS
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Feb 02 - 09:22 PM

Copied from the web page mentioned above:

THE SOUTHERN CROSS

She got up steam the twelfth of March and shortly did embark
To try her fortune in the gulf in charge of Captain Clark,
Her crew was a hundred and seventy-three, a strong and hardy race,
Some from St. John's and Brigus, some more from Harbour Grace.

She reached the gulf in early March, those whitecoats hove in view,
When seventeen thousand prime young harps killed by her hardy crew,
All panned and safely stowed below and colors waving gay,
When the Southern Cross she left the ice, bore up for home next day.

She passed near Channel homeward bound as news spread out next day,
To say a steamer from the gulf she now is on her way.
"No doubt it is the Southern Cross," the operator said,
"And looks to have a bumper trip well down into the head."

That very night the storm came on with blinding snow and sleet,
The Portia bound for western ports the Southern Cross did meet,
When Captain Connors from the bridge he saw the ship that day,
And thinking she would shelter up in St. Mary's Bay.

St. Mary's Bay she never reached, the news spread out next morn
She might have been all night at sea out in that dreadful storm.
No news came from the Southern Cross for three long days or more
To say she reached a harbour around the western shore.

The steamship Kyle was soon sent out to search the ocean round,
But no sight of that missing ship could anywhere be found.
They searched the bays and every port until they reached Cape Pine,
But of that ship or wreckage our captain saw no sign.

Now the Southern Cross for twenty days she now is overdue,
We hope please God she'll soon arrive and all her hearty crew,
So put your trust in Providence and trust to Him on high
To send the Southern Cross safe home and fill sad hearts with joy.

All things do happen for the best, but if they're called away,
The brave lads on the Southern Cross out in the storm that day,
We trust they reach that heavenly land and rest with Him on high,
Where cares and sorrows are no more but all is peace and joy.

Note from Kenneth Peacock: This famous native sea ballad achieved wide circulation in Newfoundland through the Gerald S. Doyle booklets, where it was reprinted from Ballads and Sea Songs of Newfoundland by Greenleaf and Mansfield. The original singer was Lizzie Rose of Fox Harbour, Labrador.

From Peacock, K. (1965) "Songs of the Newfoundland Outports, Vol. 3."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Southern Cross
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 11 Feb 02 - 10:33 PM

The version given above was noted from Jack Dalton of Codroy, Newfoundland, in 1960.  Staff notation is given on that site; rather poorly reproduced, but nobody's perfect and the important thing is that the source was properly credited, though Jim missed that bit.

I've made a midi from the notation, but I can't guarantee it's exactly right, as the image file is not good.  Doubtless it will eventually appear at the  Mudcat Midi Pages:  until then, it can be heard via the  South Riding Folk Network  site:

Southern Cross (midi)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SOUTHERN CROSS (#2)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 12:55 AM

There's another song with the same title.

THE SOUTHERN CROSS (#2)
(From: Carrie Brennan, Ship Cove, 1978)

1.
Gaily flags were proudly waving at the hour she set for braving,
All the obstacles advancing on that frozen field of ice;
And her crew no danger fearing, proudly caught the strength of cheering;
On the morning of her sailing, many hearts they did rejoice.

2.
Our feelings we expressed them, when we knew that God had left them,
When we heard that they were sighted deeply laden on the foam;
And our hearts were glad and cheery when told near old Cape St Mary's --
By the Portia she was sighted and she proudly sailing home.

3.
Sadly now our hearts are mourning, dreaming yet of her returning,
Many more with sorrow laden say the ocean is her doom;
O ye waters merrily prancing, with the sunshine on you dancing,
O swift us back a message, just to lift this veil of gloom.

4.
Where is she you breezes, won't you whisper grief or cheer us --
Come if you please and let us know what has become of them,
Who left sisters and fond brothers, tender-hearted wives and mothers;
O swift us back a message, tell us what has become of them.

5.
Tell us she is sank or stranded, was she swallowed or abandoned --
Are the waves that rolled upon them a forlorn and helpless wreck;
O ye breezez won't ye tell us where are the noble fellows,
We cheered the day they left us, crowding joyously on her deck.

6.
Many hearts are sorrow laden, there's the matron and the maiden,
And the darling orphan children may God hear their helpless cry --
O look down on them each morrow, give them strength to bear their sorrow,
It is you dear Lord can do it from your mansion in the sky.

"The Southern Cross was lost in the spring of 1914 when returning to St John's from the ice. She was full laden with seal pelts and was last sighted by the Portia. Between 170 and 173 men lost their lives were lost, and there was never a trace found of the ship or crew. This was a particularly sad and tragic time for Newfouldland since the crew of the sealing ship Newfoundland were lost on the ice in the same storm, leaving a total of about 252 dead in one month. There is another more well-known song written about the same event but I believe this is the first time this song has appeared in print." (Genevieve Lehr, Come and I Will Sing You: A Newfoundland Songbook, University of Toronto Press, 1985, pp. 175-176)

The lyrics and music are quoted HERE, where verses 3-4 are amalgamated into one.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Southern Cross
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Apr 04 - 01:41 PM

Refresh, for current question in Mudcat.