Lyrics

Oh, sad are hearts to-day who dwell
on Terra Nova’s shore,
For the sea has claimed its victims
on her rugged coast once more.
The bounding billows dash along,
the headlands courts the swell
And seabirds sing a requem [sic] o’er
the ill starred Florizel.

Bound for New York and Halifax
with passengers and freight
She left St. John’s and soon the
ship she met her awful fate.
Near Cappahayden’s rocky strand
beside the old Horn Head
She struck and many souls on board
were numbered with the dead.

Oh, God it is a cruel blow but
your wise will be done;
A mother’s heart is breaking for
her brave young sailor son;
A husband’s tears are coursing down
his pale cheeks for that wife
Whose words no more shall cheer
him on his struggles thru this life.

We little reek the dangers that are
thrown across our way
Ase [sic] we arise each morning for to
toil on through the day,
Our thoughts like some sweet river
flows, and we cannott [sic] perceive
The fate that lies before us, which
may come on us at eve.

Sad is the loss we have to bear of
those we once did love
Whose bodies now lies [sic] cold in death
whose souls are safe alone;
But Providence will strengthen those
whose loved ones are no more.
Who met their doom while sailing
‘long the stormy Southern Shore.

The fishermen so bravely of their
stout hearts we boast
They boldly launched their boats
to save those souls upon their coast;
And years to come our annals unto
future men will tell
The grit of those who fought to
save souls on the Florizel.

Murphy, James. February 25, 1918. “The Ill-Starred ‘Florizel.’” In The Evening Herald (St. John’s), February 25, 1918, p. 5.