Mary Somers

1. Oh, the Mary Somers, as you will see
Loaded in Saint Andrew's for the old country
She loaded deals and lobsters too
And shipped fine men for to make her crew.

2. Across the Banks we soon did steer
And shipped our course for old Cape Clear
We worked her with the greatest ease
And made the run in thirty days.

3. Now we are lying in Liverpool
Bound back for Boston with gas coal
Soon out of the Channel we shall steer
And bid adieu to old Cape Clear.

4. But the Somers meets with a heavy gale
And springs a leak under close-reefed sail
With her bowsprit gone and her rudder too
And soon we'll be a used-up crew.

5. Six days we pumped her with a will
While thoughts of home our hearts did fill
On the seventh morn, our pumps did sound -
Nine feet of water in the hold was found.

6. But in the morning we can see
The William Bradley upon our lee
We all stood by and did wear her round
And set our colours union down.

7. And as the Bradley did draw near
And close across our quarter steer
We hailed her as she did go past
Our captain said, "We're sinking fast!"

8. Then our captain says to every man,
"Swing out the boats, save all you can
Save all you can, lower the boats away,
And on this wreck we'll no longer stay."

9. Then into the boats we all did get
Not thinking of the cold and wet
On the Bradley's deck we soon did stand
To be welcomed there by every man.

10. Now the Bradley's crew was eight, I mean
Before our crew made up nineteen,
And our grub being short and our water low
Into some port in Spain we'll go.

11. Now to the sorrow of our hearts
In this port of Cadiz we must part
Oh, some will go and some remain -
Good luck to all till we meet again!

- from Capt. Charles Cates (1899-1960) of Vancouver:PJT Coll no. 180.
in the Penguin Book of Canada Folk Songs
JB