possibly by Ivor (Bertie) Gurney (1890 - 1937)
Western sailors
Language: English
I know a western river Where the Spring goes first of all. I know a sailors' village Where the elm trees grow tall And the folk in their walk And their half sea, half farm-way talk Bring names of tales and brighter fames As live as them all. O, you river, gliding to the sea, I'll ne'er forget brown Severn While my life loves the sea. Far out to wider waters All the old men have gone To shores of great Atlantic. I would love to look on Baltimore and Boston City And the wide Hudson shore, That their fathers found in Danger with a war-time risk to run. O, you river, gliding to the West: Of all the rivers yet I know, I love Severn best. They came, those hearty sailors, Home at times from foreign parts. New words and songs and salty yarns, With sea-pride in their hearts; Still I'd jump at any chance to cruise Where Carolina's sand and pines Heave first in sight for English folk With pride and salutes. O, you rivers, gliding to the sea, If you'll take me where I want to I'll make charities of thee, Love's songs of thee.
Authorship:
- possibly by Ivor (Bertie) Gurney (1890 - 1937) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ivor (Bertie) Gurney (1890 - 1937), "Western sailors", 1926 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Peter Palmer
This text was added to the website: 2012-05-25
Line count: 34
Word count: 198