American Old Time Song Lyrics: 02 The Fisherman And His Child

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 2

The Fisherman and His Child
Sung by the San Francisco Minstrels.

"The fisherman and bis child are drowned!"
Came ringing through the town;
The father and child lay under the tide,
And friends did mourn around.
The poor wife and mother prayed aloud,
"Oh, God! it cannot be,
For in yonder mist I see them still,
Their milk-white sails I see-
For in yonder mist I see them still.
Their milk-white sails I see."

Chorus
'Twas the voice of their God that they heard,
As they sank in the deep:
"Come to me, I love thee.
And thy precious soul I'll keep
Come to me, I love thee,
Thy precious soul I'll keep."

The fisherman saw his boat was lost,
He tried to save his child,
He battled the waves with all human power,
But the wind was howling wild;
Then he spoke to his child,
She answered not; he raised her tiny head,
He cried in despair: " Thy will be done!"
The child he loved was dead-
He cried in despair: "Thy trill be done!"
The child he loved was dead.-Chorus.

And when the storm ceased the sea went down,
Brave men went on the shore;
The tide had gone out, they searched all about,
From the sea two forms they bore.
Their faces were calm, their hands were raised,
As if in silent prayer.
The father in life had clasped his child,
In death they found him there-
The father in life had clasped his child,
In death thev found him there.-Chorus.