American Old Time Song Lyrics: 10 The Lady Franklin

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 10

THE LADY FRANKLIN.

Come all ye seamen, who've withstood
The dangers of the briny flood;
Give ear to these few lines I seen.
They'll put you in mind of a sailor's dream.

As we were sailing upon the deep,
Slung in my hammock I fell asleep;
I bad a dream, I hope it's not true,
Concerning Franklin and his bold crew.

As we were Hearing old England's shore,
I saw a lady who did deplore;
She wrung her hands and this did say:
"I have lost my Franklin, he's far away.

' It's seven long years since this ship of fame,
Bore my dear Franklin, across the main,
With a hundred seaman, bold and stout,
To had the Northwestern passage out.

"To find a passage 'round the North pole,
Where lightnings flash and thunders roll;
Alas, 'tis more than man can do,
With heart undaunted and courage true.

"To the East they sailed, and they sailed West,
To Greenland's isle, as they thought best;
With hardship, toil, and danger past,
On mount'nous icebergs the ship was lost.

"In Baffin's Bay, where the white whale blows,
The fate of Franklin there no one knows;
Alas, he's gone, like many more,
Who've left their bones on the arctic shore.

"It's a sad foreboding that gives me pain,
Since my dear Franklin crossed the main;
Ten thousand pounds I'd freely give,
To know if on earth my dear Franklin lives."