Music Of The Waters - online book

Sailors' Chanties, Songs Of The Sea, Boatmen's, Fishermen's,
Rowing Songs, & Water Legends with lyrics & sheet music

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	230              Music of the Waters.
	well known to German seamen ; it has no title, but is sung to an exceedingly pretty air, which I have noted down as it was given me :—
	German Version. Wenn das Atlantische Meer Lauter Champagner war ; Mocht ich ein Haifisch sein, Schliirfte nur Wellen ein. Wenn das Atlantische Meer Lauter Champagner war, War ich viel lieber doch Ein Schiff mit groszem Loch. Ging ich dann zu Grund ; Schliirft, in der letzten Stund, In deinen Schaum noch ein, Gluh'n der Champagner Wein.	English Version. If the Atlantic Sea Could only champagne be, I'd wish to be a shark, And swallow its waves for a lark. If the Atlantic Sea Could only champagne be, I'd wish with all my soul, To be a ship with a hole. When to the bottom I go, Then in that hour of woe, Still then thy foam Fd suck, O sparkling champagne cup !
	Slightly suggestive of thirst, the idea of the Atlantic and its foam-crested breakers being turned into cham­pagne ! The tragic tone of the last verse is strangely mock-solemn.
	The following song is, though nameless, a well-known one to the German seamen. The tune was just sung over to me, as it has never been in print.
	German Version. Hamburg ist ein schones Stadtchen, {All) Siehst du wohl! Welches an der Elbe liegt, (All) Siehst du wohl ! Drinnen giebt es hiibsche Mad-chen, {All) Madchen, Aber sprode sind sie nicht, (All) Siehst du wohl !	English Version. (Solo) Hamburg is a jolly city, (All) Don't you know ! (Solo) Which is lying on the Elbe, (All) Don't you know ! (Solo) And the lasses, they are pretty, (All) Pretty, {Solo) But you cannot call them prim, (All) Don't you know !