“Believe Me, Dearest Susan”

Description

"When the wind swells the canvas and the anchor's a-trip and the ensign's hauled down from the peak of the ship - Believe me dearest Susan, I will come back again!" Verses have same pattern "When (insert sailing procedure) -- Believe me dearest Susan ..."

Supplemental text

Believe Me, Dearest Susan
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Joanna C. Colcord, Songs of American Sailormen (1938 edition),
pp. 163-164. As sung by Joseph McGinnis, who learned it on the Great
Lakes from a former navy sailor.

When the wind swells the canvas and the anchor's a-trip,
And the ensign's hauled down from the peak of the ship,
When the land is receding, and fresh blows the breeze
That bears us away o'er the crest of the seas,
Hope swells my fond bosom, and this is my strain:
Believe me, dearest Susan, I will come back again.

(3 additional stanzas)

References

  1. Colcord, pp. 163-164, "Believe Me, Dearest Susan" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. ST Colc163 (Partial)
  3. Roud #4689
  4. BI, Colc163

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1938 (Colcord)
Found in: US