Out on the waters (Alfred James Caldicott)

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• (Posted 2023-09-29)  CPDL #75876:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-09-29).   Score information: Letter, 12 pages, 774 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Out on the waters
Composer: Alfred James Caldicott
Lyricist: John Askham
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1880 Novello, Ewer, and Co.
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

Out on the waters, bright and free,
A gallant ship put forth to sea,
The billows sparkled gloriously,
    In morning’s cheerful ray.

“God speed the ship,” our anchor’s weighed;
“God speed the ship,” said wife and maid;
“God speed the ship,” the mother prayed,
    As the vessel bore away.

A storm raged o’er the sea that night,
And blotted moon and stars from sight,
And the boldest quailed before its might,
    As it swept in wrath along.

And prayers were said amidst its roar,
By lips that never prayed before,
As a bark was hurled on a rocky shore,
    By the tempest fierce and strong.

And all night long through storm and rain,
Three watchers wept and prayed in vain;
“God speed the good ship home again.”
    When morn broke sullenly.

A shattered mast was brought to land,
Three corses lay upon the sand,
Three mourners wept upon the strand,
    By the sad moaning sea.