Father's Ship
A Mother's Heartache: Tragic Tale of Father's Lost Ship
Lyrics
One evening last Summer
Setting the scene; an evening in the past summer.
As I lay down to sleep
Reference to the speaker lying down to sleep.
I spied a lad about 6 years old
Observation of a crying 6-year-old boy near his mother.
At his mother’s knee did weep
The boy weeping at his mother's knee.
Saying why don’t father’s ship come in
The boy questioning the absence of his father's ship.
And why don’t he come home
Asking why his father hasn't come home.
While other ships are sailing in
Noticing other ships arriving while his father's hasn't.
Spreading the ocean foam
Describing the ocean foam as ships spread across it.
He said six months he would be gone
Recalling the promise of the father being gone for six months.
Leaving you and I alone
Emphasizing the loneliness during the father's absence.
And through the long dark winter nights
Reflecting on the passing of the long dark winter nights.
Six months have passed? Come? and gone
Confirming that the promised time has elapsed.
So why don’t father’s ship come in
Repeating the question about the father's ship not coming in.
Oh Mother please tell me why
The boy pleading with his mother to explain the situation.
And why don’t father’s ship come in
Reiteration of the question and the mother's tears.
What makes you weep and cry
Asking why the mother is weeping and crying.
My boy your father’s long voyage is o’er
The mother revealing that the father's long voyage is over.
You’ll never seem him no more
Stating that the boy will never see his father again.
For he and his tall gallant ship
Describing the father and his ship as never reaching the shore.
Will never reach the shore
Indicating the tragic fate of the ship.
For the ship and all her cargo
Further details about the ship and its cargo going down.
Went down in the ocean deep
Depicting the depth of the ocean where the ship sank.
And the waves are rolling mountains high
Describing the waves as rolling mountains over the graves.
Oe’r the graves where they do sleep
Highlighting the resting place beneath the waves.
If this be so dear mother he cried
The boy questioning the truth, considering the dead cannot return.
From the grave they cannot come
Acknowledging the permanence of death.
And you and I are left alone
Expressing the shared grief and loneliness of mother and son.
For to lament and mourn
Highlighting the purpose of lamenting and mourning.
How well can I remember
Recalling memories of the father nurturing the boy.
When he nursed me on his knee
Reminiscing about the father's care when the boy was young.
And brought to me some buds and flowers
Remembering moments of joy with gifts from the father.
From off the Indian tree
Reference to gifts from the Indian tree.
My boy you’re the pride of all my heart
The mother expressing pride in her son.
As she pressed him to her breast
The mother embracing her son emotionally.
And closed her eyes to the yonder skies
Closing eyes, possibly symbolizing resignation or acceptance.
Where the weary ones find rest
Looking towards the skies where the weary find rest.
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