Death of Herbert Rice Come all kind friends and neighbors too And listen to a tale of woe A fine young man is lost at sea It was poor Herbert's lot to be. When off Block Island our vessel lay It was November the fourteenth day The wind blew heavy the sea run high Alas young Herbert was doomed to die. As brave and gallant a lad was he As sailed upon the stormy sea But now he sleeps beneath the spray Until the Resurrection day. When to his parents the tidings came Their hearts were filled with grief and pain His father wept his mother too And cried Alas what shall we do I trust that they will find relief And not give way to pain and grief But look to God the Almighty one And say thy will not ours be done No more the voice of him we'll hear No more our love with him we'll share Then let our hearts to God be given And meet around his throne in heaven Herbert Rice fell from a jibboom in a heavy sea, off Block Island, and this simple song, set to a very quaint old tune from a songbook called 'The Dulcimer,' is still remembered and sung. In October, 1925, the editors took down the whole song from the singing of Captain Archie S. Spurling, of Islesford, DT #822 Laws D6 From Eckstorm SOF apr97
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!