Lady Franklin's Lament

"Lady Franklin's Lament" (a.k.a. "Lord Franklin") (Roud 487) is a traditional ballad commemorating the loss of Sir John Franklin's British Arctic Expedition of 1845. It is attested as early as 1855, allegedly written by Jane Griffin (Lady Franklin), Sir John's widow.

It has been recorded by numerous artists, including Martin Carthy, John Renbourn, Pentangle, Sinéad O'Connor, Pearlfishers as well as the Duncan McFarlane Band, where the chorus of the Northwest Passage is added to the end. The melody was also used for Bob Dylan's song "Bob Dylan's Dream", as well as David Wilcox's "Jamie's Secret". The 1981 song, "Northwest Passage" by Stan Rogers also recalls Franklin's expedition. The first verse is also used in "I'm Already There" by Fairport Convention

Lyrics

(Traditional)

(To the tune of "The Croppy Boy")

We were homeward bound one night on the deep

Swinging in my hammock I fell asleep

I dreamed a dream and I thought it true

Concerning Franklin and his gallant crew

With a hundred seamen he sailed away

To the frozen ocean in the month of May To seek a passage around the pole

Where we poor sailors do sometimes go.

Through cruel hardships they vainly strove

Their ships on mountains of ice were drove Only the Eskimo with his skin canoe

Was the only one that ever came through

In Baffin's Bay where the whale fish blow The fate of Franklin no man may know

The fate of Franklin no tongue can tell

Lord Franklin with his sailors do dwell

And now my burden it gives me pain

For my long-lost Franklin I would cross the main

Ten thousand pounds I would freely give

To know on earth, that my Franklin do live.

(alternate: To know Lord Franklin and where he is.)