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FRANKLIN THE BRAVE
or LADY FRANKLIN'S LAMENT (trad.)

Martin Carthy

(Version #1) (Version #2)

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Dylan's source for his own "Bob Dylan's Dream", learned from Martin Carthy.
The tune seems to be a variant of "The Croppy Boy" (recorded, among others, by The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem).

LISTEN (Real Audio) at

• Digital Tradition Folk Song Lyrics Database (full text search)

VERSION NO. 1, DIGITAL TRADITION FILE NAME: LADYFRAN

We were homeward bound one night on the deep
Swinging in my hammock I fell asleep
I dreamed a dream and I thought it true
Concerning Franklin and his gallant crew

With 100 seamen he sailed away
To the frozen ocean in the month of May
To seek a passage around the Pole
Where we poor seamen do sometimes roll

Through cruel misfortune they vainly strove
Their ships on mountains of ice was drove
Where the Eskimo with his skin canoe
Was the only one that could ever come through

In Baffin's Bay where the whale fish blow
The fate of Franklin no man may know
The fate of Franklin no tongue can tell
Lord Franklin among his seamen do dwell

And now my burden it gives me pain
For my long lost Franklin I would cross the main
Ten thousand pounds I would freely give
To know that on earth my Franklin do live

VERSION NO. 2, DIGITAL TRADITION FILE NAME: LADYFRN2

from Sam Henry, Songs of the People

We were homeward bound all in the deep
Alone in my hammock I fell asleep
And I dreamt a dream that I thought was true
Concerning Franklin and his bold crew

As I was musing on yon foreign shore
I heard a lady and she did deplore
She wept aloud and to me did say,
Oh, my loving husband, he stops long away.

It is seven long years since three ships of fame
Caused my dear husband to cross the main
And a hundred seamen of courage stout
A northwest passage for to find out

They sail-ed east and they sail-ed west
To find their passage they knew not best
Ten thousand pounds would I freely give
If I only knew if my husband lived

There is Captain Parry of high renown
There is Captain Hoggs of Seamore town
There is Captain Ross and many more
I'm afraid they are lost on some foreign shore

In Baffin's Bay where the whale fish blows
The fate of Franklin no one knows
I am afraid he is lost on yon foreign shore
Where he left his home to return no more.