American Old Time Song Lyrics: 28 The Wreck Of The Life Boat

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 28

THE WRECK OF THE LIFE-BOAT.
Copyright, 1890, by Harding Brothers.
Written and Composed by Charles Osborne. Arranged by Alfred Leggett

In an old-fashioned cottage that stands on the cliff, a woman is sitting alone,
Sewing with fingers so nervous and stiff, And cheeks that are cold as a stone;
The lantern that's lit in the window gleams on the waters below;
She's thinking, yes thinking, of that night twelve months ago.

Chorus.
The life-boat went out in the wind, leaving a lassie behind
Thinking of Jack, wishing him back, praying for those on the foam.
But Jack, with the best of his band, was wrecked within sight of the land,
Never will she her sailor see, or give him a welcome home.

Playmates from childhood were Noll, Jack and I, for he was the son of a tar
Nell was my sister, and, absent or nigh, he called her his bright guiding star;
We joined the crew of the life-boat, first to the rescue was he.
But they parted, yes parted, wrecked by the waves of the sea.-Chorus.

One starry night, far away o'er the sea, a vessel was fast on a reef.
Out went the life-boat and in her went we, away to her help and relief;
Jack brought aboard the survivors, see how we pull for the shore.
But she's sinking, yes sinking, no human eye saw her more.-Chorus.

Only one man from the life-boat was saved, only one sailor came back-
I was the sailor they snatched from the waves, our bold-hearted skipper was Jack,
Nell sits at home in the twilight, watching the lights on the foam­She's watching, still watching, waiting to welcome him home.-Chorus.