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 Farewell
to Prince's Landing Stage
River Mersey, fare thee well
I am bound for California
A place I know right well
Chorus:
So fare thee well, my own true love
When I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that's grieving me
But my darling when I think of thee
I'm bound off
for California
By the way of stormy Cape Horn
And I will write you a letter, my love
When weam homeward bound
Chorus:
I have shipped
aboarda Yankee ship
Davy Crockett is her name
And Burgess is the Captain of her
And they say she's a floating shame
Chorus:
I have shipped
with Burgess once before
And I think I know him well
If a man's a sailor, he can get along
If not, then his life is a Hell
Chorus:
Farewell to
lower Frederick Street
Ensign Terrace and Park Lane
For I think it will be a long, long time
Before I see you again
Chorus:
Oh the sun
is on the harbour, love
And I wish I could remain
For I know it will be a long, long time
Till I see you again
Chorus:
W.
M. Doerflinger ("Shantymen and Shantyboys," New York 1951)
collected this song from an ex-seaman, Dick Maitland, who first
heard it in 1885. "I was on deck," says Maitland, "one
night, when I heard a Liverpool man singing it in the foc's'le.
Yes sir, that song hit the spot." The song is included on a
Prestige record of sea songs by A. L. Lloyd and Ewan McColl (both
now "up aloft," God rest their souls).
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