by John Gibson Lockhart (1794 - 1854)
The song of the Galley
Language: English
Ye mariners of Spain Bend strongly on your oars, And bring my love again, For he lies among the Moors. Ye galleys fairly built Like castles on the sea, Oh, great will be your guilt If ye bring him not to me! The wind is blowing strong, The breeze will aid your oars, O swiftly fly along, For he lies among the Moors! The fresh breeze of the sea Cools every cheek but mine, O hot is its breath to me As I gaze upon the brine! Lift up, lift up your sail And bend upon your oars, O lose not the fair gale, For he lies among the Moors! It is a narrow strait, I see the blue hills over, Your coming I'll await, And thank you for my lover. To Mary I will pray While ye bend upon your oars, 'Twill be a blessed day If ye fetch him from the Moors.
Text Authorship:
- by John Gibson Lockhart (1794 - 1854), appears in Ancient Spanish ballads: historical and romantic [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 Frances Arkwright (1787 - 1849), "The song of the Galley", published <<1830? [ voice and piano ], from A set of six ancient Spanish ballads, no. 6, London : J. Power [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-10-23
Line count: 28
Word count: 154