American Old Time Song Lyrics: 34 The Flying Dutchman

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 34

THE FLYING DUTCHMAN.

'Twas on a stormy day, far southward of the Cape,
When from a high nor'wester we just made our escape;
Like an infant in its cradle, each breeze was hushed to sleep,
And peacefully we sailed along the bosom of the deep.
At length, the helmsman gave a shout of terror and of fear.
As if he just had gazed upon some sudden danger near;
We looked around the ocean, and just upon our lee.
We saw the Flying Dutchman come bounding through the sea.

"Take in your flowing canvass, lads! our watchful masters said.
To us and our ship's company great peril doth betide;
The billows cresting white with foam, all angry doth appear,
The wind springs up a hurricane--now Vanderdecken's near!"
He comes-the Flying Dutchman! comes o'er the lofty spray,
Preceded by the tempest dire, he makes for Table Bay;
With bird-like speed he's borne before the wind and howling blast,
But ere he can cast anchor there, the bay, alas! is past.

He scuds along too rapidly, to mark the eagle's flight,
And, lightning like, the Dutchman's helm full soon is out of sight.
The crews of ships far distant now shudder at the breeze
That bears the Flying Dutchman in fury o'er the seas. I
Then mourn for Vandtrdecken, for terrible's his doom-
The ocean round the stormy Cape. It is his living tomb;
There the Dutchman beats about for ever, night and day,
And tries in vain his oath to keep by entering Table Bay.