Lyrics

You people all both great and small I hope you will attend
And listen to those verses few that I have lately penned,
While I relate the hardships great that fishermen must stand
While sailing over the stormy seas on the coast of Newfoundland.

It happened to be in the summertime in the lovely month of June
The flowers began to spring and rise all in their earthly bloom;
If you will pay attention I will unfold to ye
The dangers of the S.S. Deane that went out on the sea.

She left the port of Harbour Grace being on a Sunday night
With a crew of hearty whaling men with spirits gay and bright;
For to land them in Hawke’s Harbour as she oft-times done before
But now I’m sorry to relate she’ll never go no more.

She left the port of Harbour Grace when the flowers were in full bloom
To land them in Hawke’s Harbour her summer to pursue;
With fifty brave whaling men of courage brave and gay
The most of them were married men, belong to Placentia Bay.

She left the port of Harbour Grace as we have all been told
Not fearing any danger no matter how it blowed;
And on that very same Sunday to our surprising shock
The S.S. Deane making full speed she lands upon a rock.

And when she struck upon the rock ’twas a sad sight for to see
Every man with his clothes bag as witty as could be;
For to save their belongings that was money’s worth to them
And struggling hard to save their lives those fifty shipwrecked men.

You may thank the light keeper that lived on Penguin,
The lovely man, whoever he was, all praise be given him;
May this good deed go down for him, may it recorded be
For saving those fifty shipwrecked men from the dangers of the sea.

For to conclude and finish, thank God no deed was done
The Deane she sank to rise no more so near Stag Harbour run;
They’re safely in Hawke’s Harbour their summer for to spend
May God be with them night and day, send them safe home again.

Source: http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/23/deane.htm