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Southern Cross (Collected by Lehr/Best) with sheet music
See also: Wreck Of The Southern Cross (Collected by Greenleaf/Yarrow)
And also: What Happened To The Southern Cross? (Gary Callahan)

sheet music

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.

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.

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.

Where is she, you breezes, won't you whisper gried 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.

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

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.

####.... Author unknown. Original Newfoundland song ....####
Collected in 1976 from Carrie Brennan of Ship Cove, NL, by Genevieve Lehr and Anita Best and published as #101 in Come And I Will Sing You: A Newfoundland Songbook, pp.175-176, edited by Genevieve Lehr (University of Toronto Press © 1985/2003).

Genevieve Lehr noted that the Southern Cross was lost in the spring of 1914, 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 lives were lost with no trace ever found of the ship or crew. The crew of the Newfoundland was lost on the ice in the same storm, leaving about 252 dead in one month.

A variant was recorded by Pamela Morgan (Songs, Stories And Tunes From Newfoundland & Labrador, trk#4, 1983, Pigeon Inlet Productions, St. John's, NL, produced by Kelly Russell).

A variant was also recorded by Pamela Morgan (Favourite Newfoundland Folk Music, trk#11, 1986, Pigeon Inlet Productions, St. John's, NL, produced by Kelly Russell).

A similar variant was recorded by Great Big Sea (Turn, 1999).


See more songs about Newfoundland and Labrador shipwrecks.





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