Southern Cross (folk song)

Southern Cross (folk song)

The song Southern Cross is a traditional Newfoundland folk ballad describing the loss of the Southern Cross on the south coast of Newfoundland with 173 men on onboard.

Lyrics

She got up the steam twelfth day of March and shortly did embark.
To try her fortune in the Gulf in charge of Captain Clark.
She carried a hundred and seventy men, a strong and vigorous race,
Some from St. John's and Brigus, and some more from Harbour Grace.

She reached the Gulf in early March, the white-coats for to slew,
When seventeen thousand prime young harps killed by her hardy crew,
All panned and safely stowed below, with colours waving gay,
The "Southern Cross" she leaved the ice, bound up for home that day.

She passed near Channel homeward bound, as news came out next day,
To say a steamer from the Gulf she noe is on her way.
"No doubt it is the "Southern Cross", "the operator said,
"And looking to have a bumper trip, and well down by the head."

The last of March 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, as news came out next morn.
She must have been all night at sea, out in that dreadful storm.
No word came from the "Southern Cross" now twenty days or more;
To say she reached a harbour around the western shore.

The SS Kyle was soon dispatched to search the ocean round,
But no sign of the missing ship could anywhere be found.
She searched Cape Race and every place until she reached Cape Pine,
But of the ship or wrecking the captain saw no sign.

The Southern Cross out twenty days, she now is overdue;
We hope, please God, she'll soon arrive and all her hearty crew,
But 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 the heavenly and rest with Him on high,
Where cares and sorrows are no more, but all is peace and joy.

ee also

* List of Newfoundland songs

External links

* [http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/song.html Newfoundland Heritage, Traditional Songs]
* [http://www.heritage.nf.ca/dictionary/ Dictionary of Newfoundland English]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Southern Cross (disambiguation) — Southern Cross is the English name of Crux Australis , a constellation visible in the Southern Hemisphere.The term Southern Cross can also refer to:Transport* Southern Cross, the Fokker F.VIIB/3m flown by pioneer aviator Sir Charles Kingsford… …   Wikipedia

  • Roud Folk Song Index — The Roud Folk Song Index is a database of 300,000 references to over 21,600 songs that have been collected from oral tradition in the English language from all over the world. It is a combination of the Broadside Index (printed sources before… …   Wikipedia

  • folk music — 1. music, usually of simple character and anonymous authorship, handed down among the common people by oral tradition. 2. music by known composers that has become part of the folk tradition of a country or region. [1885 90] * * * Music held to be …   Universalium

  • Southern United States — The Southern United States mdash;commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South mdash;constitutes a large distinctive region in the southeastern and south central United States. Because of the region s unique cultural and… …   Wikipedia

  • Song Dynasty — This article is about the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties. For the Southern Dynasty, see Liu Song Dynasty. Song 宋 ← …   Wikipedia

  • Culture of the Southern United States — Modern definition The states in dark red are almost always included in modern day definitions of the South, while those in red are usually included. Those in dark red are also called the deep south. The striped states are sometimes/occasionally… …   Wikipedia

  • Good Shepherd (song) — Good Shepherd is a traditional song, most known as recorded by Jefferson Airplane on their 1969 album Volunteers. It was arranged and sung by the group s guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, who described their interpretation of it as psychedelic folk rock …   Wikipedia

  • Our House (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song) — This article is about the song by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. For other uses, see Our House. Our House Single by Crosby, Stills, Nash Young from the album Déjà Vu Released March 11, 1970 Recorded …   Wikipedia

  • Jim Payne (folk singer) — of Newfoundland culture. He also composed the song Wave Over Wave with Janis Spence and founded the record label [http://www.singsong.nfld.com SingSong Inc] . Biography Payne was born in Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland. He plays guitar, accordion,… …   Wikipedia

  • Dynastie Song/Traduction à faire — Modèle:Otheruses Sommaire 1 0 2 Histoire de la dynastie Song 2.1 Les Song du Nord 2.2 Les Song du Sud …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”