Blow the Wind Southerly
Fo'c'sle Song
Modified by Maggie Hannington from a song by John Stobbs


SHANTY SINGERS AND BALLADEERS
We're singing this in ?
Chorus
Blow the wind Southerly, Southerly, Southerly, 
Blow the wind South o’er the bonnie blue sea;
Blow the wind Southerly, Southerly, Southerly,
Blow bonnie breeze, my lover to me.

They told me last night there were ships in the offing,
And I hurried down to the deep rolling sea; 
But my eye could not see it
Wherever might be it, 
The bark that is bearing my lover to me.
(Chorus)

The ships there were many a blowing and bowin’
And bending right o’er in the salty sea foam;
‘Til my eye did behold it,
As many had told it,
The great bonnie ship of my lover come home.
(Chorus)

My sweetheart had fared through the winter unfriendly:
His ship came along in the early spring tide.
Now my heartache is ended;
All rifts now are mended;
My lover will soon be right here by my side.
(Chorus)

This is a very sweet song that our girls have down to a science of harmony.  Not to be missed.

All Dean could find on the author:  John Stobbs, born in 1817, and noted in the 1851 census for South Shields as having been born in Manchester.  Also this link to another of Stobbs' songs.