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The Titanic
Micho Rusell
Doonagore, Doolin

Carroll Mackenzie Collection

Micho Russell
 

Oh, the world o’er from shore to shore
Will mourn at the loss,
Of that big ship on her first trip,
The ocean for to cross.
There was no fear, but joy and cheer
Upon that big ship’s deck.
Oh, who would think she was to sink
And become a total wreck?

She left the port in joy and sport,
A tower of manly craft.
With human freight of hundreds eight,
A crew up fore and aft,
Who did rejoice until the ice
Brought sorrow, grief and gloom,
And sent that ocean’s pride for to reside
Into a watery tomb.

It was at night, it was a fright,
With most of them undressed;
That gallant crew, what could they do?
Ah, but they done their best.
They lowered each boat and put afloat
Children and their wives.
No selfish thought to them was brought
To save their own dear lives.

Ah, but alas, that struggling mass
Was never more to land.
In their dear homes, the raging foam
Had them at its command.
The seething waves must be their graves,
May Heaven have each soul,
And comfort give to those that live,
And resound from pole to pole.

‘Titanic’ named, for strength ’twas famed,
’Twas built for speed - what price!
But ah, how frail when it did sail
Upon that berg of ice.
That thing of pride it did divide
From stem to stern in two.
May those it drowned in peace be found,
Both passengers and crew.

May God control each perished soul
Of bodies in the deep.
And send relief and stem the grief
Their friends for to console.
When with a smile, good Father Boyle
His blessing on them gave;
May Heaven bless and send success
For those he tried to save.

 
     

"The sinking of the Titanic on 14th April 1912, described at the time as 'the most appalling shipping disaster in the history of the world', gave rise to a great number of songs. According to D.K. Wilgus, 70 have been collected, 14 of which were found in Ireland."

Reference:
Irish Traditional Narrative Songs in English 1800-1916: Songs D.K. Wilgus.
Views of the Irish Peasantry1800-1916, Eds. D. Casey and Robert E. Rhodes.

Jim Carroll

See also
The Titanic sung by Michael 'Straighty' Flanagan
The Titanic sung by Jamesie McCarthy



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