An old song re-sung (Charles Tomlinson Griffes)
Music files
| ICON | SOURCE |
|---|---|
 |
Web Page |
 |
File details |
 |
Help |
- (Posted 2008-07-22) CPDL #17677:
- Contributor: Internet Archivecreate page (submitted 2008-07-22). Score information: Letter, 16 pages, 814 kB Copyright: Public Domain
- Edition notes: Scanned score. In A flat Major
General Information
Title: An old song re-sung
Composer: Charles Tomlinson Griffes
Lyricist: John Masefield (1878-1967)
Number of voices: 1v Voicing: Soprano solo
Genre: Secular, Art song
Language: English
Instruments: Piano
First published: circa 1920
Description:
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
I saw a ship a-sailing, a-sailing, a-sailing,
With emeralds and rubies and sapphires in her hold;
And a bosun in a blue coat bawling at the railing,
Piping a silver call that had a chain of gold;
The summer wind was failing and the tall ship rolled.
I saw a ship a-steering, a-steering, a-steering,
With roses in red thread worked upon her sails;
With sacks of purple amethysts, the spoils of buccaneering,
Skins of musky yellow wine, and silks in bales,
Her merry men were cheering, hauling on the brails.
I saw a ship a-sinking, a-sinking, a-sinking,
With glittering sea-water splashing on her decks,
With seamen in her spirit-room singing songs and drinking,
Pulling claret bottles down, and knocking off the necks,
The broken glass was chinking as she sank among the wrecks.