by Katharine Tynan (1861 - 1931)
Old Song Re‑Sung
Language: English
I saw three ships asailing, a-sail-ing on the sea, The first her masts were silver, Her hull was Ivory. The snows came driftting softly, And lined her white as wool; Oh, Jesus, Son of Mary, Thy Crad-le beau-ti-ful! I saw three ships a-sailing, The next was red as blood, Her decks shone like a ruby, Encrimsoned all her wood. Her main mast stood up lonely, A lonely cross and stark. Oh, Jesus, Son of Mary, Bring all men to that ark! I saw three ships a-sailing. The third for cargo bore The souls of men redeemed, That shall be slaves no more. The lost beloved faces, I saw them glad and free. Oh, Jesus, Son of Mary, When wilt thou come for me?
Text Authorship:
- by Katharine Tynan (1861 - 1931) [author's text not yet checked 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 M. Ryan Taylor (b. 1972), "Old Song Re-Sung", from All Heaven and it was One Hour Old : a Christmas with Katherine Tynan, no. 4. [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-03-17
Line count: 24
Word count: 123