An old song re-sung (Henry Balfour Gardiner)

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• (Posted 2023-10-17)  CPDL #76435:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-10-17).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 561 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: An old song re-sung
Composer: Henry Balfour Gardiner
Lyricist: John Masefield
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB, divisi
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1920 Novello and Co.
Description: 

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 through 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 their necks,
The broken glass was clinking as she sank among the wrecks.