Familiar Songs - Their Authors & Histories

300 traditional songs, inc sheet music with full piano accompaniment & lyrics.

	128	OUR FAMILIAR SONGS.
	All in the Downs the fleet was moored, The streamers waving in the wind, When black-eyed Susan came on board: " O, where shall I my true love find ? Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true, If my sweet William sails among the crew." William, who high upon the yard Rocked with the billow to and fro, Soon as her well known voice he heard, He sighed, and cast his eyes below : The cord slides swiftly through his glowing hands, And, quick as lightning, on the deck he stands. So the sweet lark, high poised in air, Shuts close his pinions to his breast If chance his mate's shrill call he hear, And drops at once into her nest: — The noblest captain in the British fleet Might envy William's lip those kisses sweet " O Susan, Susan, lovely dear, My vows shall ever true remain; Let me kiss off that falling tear; We only part to meet again. Change as ye list, ye winds; my heart shall be The faithful compass that still points to thee.		" Believe not what the landsmen say, Who tempt with doubts thy constant mind: They'll tell thee sailors when away, In every port a mistress find: Yes, yes, believe them when they tell thee so, For thou art present wheresoe'er I go. " If to fair India's coast we sail, Thy eyes are seen in diamonds bright, Thy breath is Afric's spicy gale, Thy skin is ivory so white. Thus every beauteous object that I view, Wakes in my soul some charm of lovely Sue. " Through battle call me from thy arms, Let not my pretty Susan mourn ; Though cannons roar, yet safe from harms William shall to his dear return. Love turns aside the balls that round me fly, Lest precious tears should drop from Susan's eye." The boatswain gave the dreadful word, The sails their swelling bosom spread; No longer must she stay aboard; They kissed, she sighed, he hung his head. Her lessening boat unwilling rows to land; " Adieu !" she cries, and waves her lily hand.
	'TWAS WHEN THE SEAS WERE ROARING. The words of the following song were written by John Gay. It was made for a tragi - comic play, entitled " WhatxT-ye-call-it T" This was an entirely new style of piece, in which the action was apparently tragic, but the language absurd. Part of the audi-