The Sailor's Grave

(album: Down To The Sea In Ships - 1956)

Our barque was far, far from the land
When the fairest of our gallant band
Grew deadly pale, and pined away
Like the twilight dawn of an autumn day

We watched him through long hours of pain
Our fears were great, our hopes in vain
Death's call he heard; made no alarm
He smiled and died in his messmate's arms

We had no costly winding sheet
We placed two round shot at his feet
And in his hammock, snug and sound:
A kingly shroud like marble bound

We proudly decked his funeral vest
With a starry flag upon his breast
We gave him this as a badge so brave
Then he was fit for a sailor's grave

Our voices broke, our hearts turned weak
And tears were seen on the brownest cheek
A quiver played on the lip of pride
As we lowered him down our ship's dark side

A splash, a plunge and our task was o'er
And the billows rolled as they rolled before
And many a prayer said to the wave
That lowered him in a sailor's grave