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by John Masefield (1878 - 1967)

A sailor's prayer
 (Sung text for setting by J. Keel)
 Matches original text
Language: English 
When the last sea is sailed and the last shallow charted, 
When the last field is reaped and the last harvest stored, 
When the last fire is out and the last guest departed, 
Grant the last prayer that I shall pray, Be good to me, O Lord! 

And let me pass in a night at sea, a night of storm and thunder, 
In the loud crying of the wind through sail and rope and spar; 
Send me a ninth great peaceful wave to drown and roll me under 
To the cold tunny-fishes' home where the drowned galleons are. 

And in the dim green quiet place far out of sight and hearing, 
Grant I may hear at whiles the wash and thresh of the sea-foam 
About the fine keen bows of the stately clippers steering 
Towards the lone northern star and the fair ports of home. 

Composition:

    Set to music by J. Frederick Keel (1871 - 1954), "A sailor's prayer" [ voice and piano ], from Four Salt-Water Ballads, no. 3

Text Authorship:

  • by John Masefield (1878 - 1967), title 1: "A Last Prayer", title 2: "D'Avalos' Prayer", appears in Salt Water Ballads, first published 1902

See other settings of this text.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2008-12-30
Line count: 12
Word count: 145

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