The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE TITANIC

OH, THEY BUILT THE SHIP TITANIC TO SAIL THE OCEAN BLUE,
AND THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD A SHIP THAT THE WATERS
COULDN'T GET THROUGH,
BUT THE GOOD LORD RAISED HIS HAND, SAID THIS SHIP WOULD NEVER LAND,
IT WAS SAD WHEN THE GREAT SHIP WENT DOWN.
OH, IT WAS SAD, IT WAS SAD,
IT WAS SAD WHEN THE GREAT SHIP WENT DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE --
HUSBANDS AND WIVES, LITTLE CHILDREN LOST THEIR LIVES,
IT WAS SAD WHEN THE GREAT SHIP WENT DOWN. MM
OH, THEY NEARED THE ICY SHORE WHEN THE RAINS BEGAN TO POUR,
AND THE RICH REFUSED TO ASSOCIATE WITH THE POOR,
SO THEY PUT THEM DOWN BELOW, WHERE THEY'D BE THE FIRST TO GO,
IT WAS SAD WHEN THE GREAT SHIP WENT DOWN.
OH, IT WAS SAD.... MM
OH, THE SIDES BEGAN TO BREAK AND THE BOW BEGAN TO BURST,
AND THE CAPTAIN SHOUTED, "WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST."
THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN CRIED, WHILE ALL AROUND THEM DIED,
IT WAS SAD WHEN THE GREAT SHIP WENT DOWN.
OH, IT WAS SAD... MM
SO THEY PUT THE LIFEBOATS OUT ON THE DARK AND STORMY SEA,
AND THE BAND STRUCK UP WITH "NEARER MY GOD TO THEE."
THE CAPTAIN TRIED TO WIRE, BUT THE WIRES WERE ALL AFIRE,
IT WAS SAD WHEN THE GREAT SHIP WENT DOWN.
OH, IT WAS SAD... MM
OH, THE MORAL OF THIS STORY IS WHEN YOU PUT OUT TO SEA,
YOU SHOULD WEAR A LIFE PRESERVER OR ON THE BOTTOM YOU'LL BE,
THE TITANIC NEVER WAS, NOW IT NEVER MORE SHALL BE,
IT WAS SAD WHEN THE GREAT SHIP WENT DOWN.
OH, IT WAS SAD, IT WAS SAD,
IT WAS SAD WHEN THE GREAT SHIP WENT DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE--
HUSBANDS AND WIVES, LITTLE CHILDREN LOST THEIR LIVES,
IT WAS SAD WHEN THE GREAT SHIP WENT DOWN.
KER-PLUNK
BUBBLE, BUBBLE.

Submitter comment: THERE WAS AN ALTERNATE LINE FOR THE REFRAIN IN PLACE OF
THE "HUSBANDS AND WIVES..." LINE:
"UNCLES AND AUNTS, LITTLE CHILDREN WET THEIR PANTS"

Where learned: MISSOURI ; KANSAS CITY

Date learned: 00-00-1971