by Cicely Fox Smith (1882 - 1954)
Limehouse Reach
Language: English
Now, I fell in love with a Limehouse lass, But she has proved untrue: She looked as fresh as a figurehead That's just been painted new: But she's took and married a lighterman, So it's time for me to go, But I would have loved you so, my dear, I would have loved you so! Oh, a shake o' the forsheet pays for all That a sailor leaves behind, For an alehouse shot, and a friend forgot, And a sweetheart false or kind. And a bloomin' mudhook's off the ground, for it's time for us to go: But I would have loved you so, my dear, I would have loved you so! Now a long goodbye to Limehouse Reach, And a last goodbye to you: A feller's a fool to die for love, Which I don't mean to do. There are girls as smart in every port From here to Callao But I would have loved you so, my dear, I would have loved you so!
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Researcher for this page: Thomas Dymit
Authorship:
- by Cicely Fox Smith (1882 - 1954), "Limehouse Reach", appears in Songs in Sail, first published 1914 [author's text checked 1 time 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 Michael (Dewar) Head (1900 - 1976), "Limehouse Reach", 1948, published 1949, from Six Sea Songs, no. 2. [text verified 1 time]
- by Humphrey Procter-Gregg (1895 - 1980), "Limehouse Reach", published 1932. [voice and piano] [text not verified]
Researcher for this page: Thomas Dymit
This text was added to the website: 2008-03-06
Line count: 24
Word count: 166