John Hughson SA1974.13.9
This sentimental song was written in 1865 by the American composer and songwriter Henry Clay Work. The lyrics give no reason why the ship never returned, but as long as men put to sea their ships can be lost without a trace due to weather, un-seaworthiness, or many other causes – including piracy. In the nineteenth century, with no weather forecasting, radar or radio, this was not an uncommon event. (Roud no. 775).
John heard his father singing it. He added that many new songs have come in during the past twenty years and that young people are not singing these songs now, adding rather sadly, “They don’t seem to sing much now, anyway, the young people.”
Below John’s text we have added a version collected in the USA.
A pale-faced boy said to his loving mother,
“I must cross the deep blue sea,
For they tell me for a fact in some foreign country
There is health and wealth for me.”
It was on a summer’s day when the wind was blowing
With a soft and sighing breeze,
When a ship set sail wi’ her cargo in
For a home beyond the seas.
Did she ever return, no she never returned
An’ her fate is still unknown;
For from that day to this day there’s fond ones been watching
For the ship that will never return.
There were fond ones watching with fond affection
As she kissed her darling boy,
An’ she sent him off with a smile and a blessing
To the ship that will never return.
And we’ll settle down in a snug little cottage
And we’ll spend all the money we’ve earned,
But alas, poor boy, he has sailed away
On the ship that will never return.
——–
Ship that Never Returned – From Harry B. Peters: Folk Songs Out of Wisconsin,
p. 106. Collected from Noble Brown, Millsville WI, (1946).
‘Twas a summer’s day and the waves were rippled
By a soft and gentle breeze,
When a ship set sail with a cargo ladened
For a port beyond the sea.
There were fond farewells, loving demonstrations
By the ones who were most concerned.
Though they little knew ’twas the fatal voyage
Of the ship that never returned.
Did she ever return? No, she never returned,
And her fate is yet unlearned.
Though for years and years there were fond hearts watching
For the ship that never returned.
Said the feeble lad to his anxious mother,
“l must cross the deep blue sea,
For they say, perchance, in some foreign climate
There is help and strength for me.”
‘Twas a gleam of hope in the midst of danger
And her heart for her youngest yearned.
But she sent him forth with a smile and a blessing
On the ship that never returned.
“Only one more trip,” said a gallant seaman
As he kissed his weeping wife.
“Only one more bag of the gold and treasure
And ’twill last us all through life.
“Then we’ll settle down in our cosy cottage
And enjoy the rest we’ve earned.”
But alas, poor man, for he sailed commander
Of the ship that never returned.
Did she ever return? No, she never returned,
And her fate is yet unlearned.
Though for years and years there were fond hearts watching
For the ship that never returned