American Old Time Song Lyrics: 28 A Baby Adrift At Sea
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 28
A BABY ADRIFT AT SEA.
Copyright, 1890, by Willis Woodward & Co.
Words and Music by Paul Dresser.
A gallant ship In a storm at sea, and the waves rolled mountains high;
To the life-boats, quick! the captain shouts, for the grave was ne'er so nigh:
A frenzied mother lowers her babe, all alone in the boat it lay,
And the cruel waves, remorselessly, swept the boat and babe away!
Oh, horror-stricken the mother stands, watching it fade from sight,
Despair now falls upon her heart in clouds as dark as night;
Oh, God! she cries, in mercy send my darling back to me,
And she knelt And prayed to him on high for her babe adrift at sea.
Chorus.
Our Father who art in the heavens! that was the mother's sad cry;
I beg Thee, Father of Fathers, protect with Thy watchful eye
The dearest of all to a mother, most precious on earth to me-
A mother now begs And appeals for her baby adrift at sea.
The night seemed years to her anxious heart, but at last it passed away;
The ocean's breast was calmed in sleep, and just at break of day,
They scanned the waters far and wide, no eye without a tear.
For hope was drowned in deep despair, forever lost they fear.
A boat ahoy! the look-out shouts, a boat without a sail.
And as they near that bark so frail, they hear a plaintiff wail-
An infant's cry-but twelve Strong arms six oars in water dip.
And the babe is safe in mother's arms on board the staunch old ship.-Chorus.