First line: "There's a sad disaster lately occurred". Concentrates on the fate of the Captain and his wife.

Written, composed, and sung with success by James Horton, vocalist and author.

There's a sad disaster lately occurred,
'Tis dreadful to relate,
The piercing cries that then were heard
On that great ship Northfleet;
Brave Captain Knowles stood on the deck,
As the vessel the waves dashed o'er,
And the last words on his dying lips-
"God speed you safe to shore"
Yes, these were the last words the captain spoke,
As the boat from the ship they did lower,
I lay down my life, for the crew and my wife,
God speed you safe to shore.

CHORUS: Go, boatswain, go, e'er our ship sinks below,
                    Above I'll meet once more,
                    And may we all stand, at heaven's right hand,
                    God speed you safe to shore.

Captain Knowles was a man, deny it who can,
Who the ocean's storms had braved,
And his wife was sure, when she landed on shore,
That her husband be would be saved;
Now what was the grief, there could be no relief,
When she fond that he was no more,
Then she thought of the words on his dying lips-
" God speed you safe to shore"
The captain took his farewell fond look,
Of those he would never see more,
I lay down my life, for the crew and my wife,
God speed you safe to shore

In the annals of fame we shall hear his name,
For we know that he did his best,
Them all to save, from a watery grave,
E'er he laid him down to rest;
He then bid adieu to those he loved true,
For he knew all his troubles were o'er,
When he saw the little boat on the ocean afloat,
God speed you safe to shore.
Go, boatswain go, ocr we sink below,
And the waves our vessel dash o'er,
I lay down my life, for the crew and my wife,
God speed you safe to shore. a