“The Titanic (IV) ("Lost on the Great Titanic") (Titanic #4)”

Description

The Titanic is only a few hours' sailing from shore when it strikes an iceberg and sinks. Both rich and poor are lost with the ship. Husbands gallantly stand aside to let their wives be saved. The band plays "Nearer my God to Thee" as she goes down

Notes

This song is dD40 in Laws's Appendix I.

Despite this song (and other folklore), the band on the _Titanic_ did NOT play "Nearer My God to Thee" as the ship sank. Instead, they played light music to prevent panic.

To tell this from the other _Titanic_ songs, consider these stanzas:

The great _Titanic_ went sailing

Ninety-eight miles from shore,

It suddenly struck an iceberg

And sank forevermore.

Lost, lost on the great Titanic,

Sinking to rise no more,

A number of sixteen hundred

Had failed to reach the shore.

For an extensive history of the _Titanic_, with detailed examination of the truth (or lack thereof) of quotes in the _Titanic_ songs, see the notes to "The Titanic (XV)" ("On the tenth day of April 1912") (Titanic #15) - RBW

Historical references

• April 14/15, 1912 - Shortly before midnight, ship's time, the Titanic strikes an iceberg and begins to sink. Only 711 survivors are found of 2224 people believed to have been aboard.

Cross references

• cf. all the other Titanic songs (plot)
• cf. "Lost on the Lady Elgin" (tune)

Recordings

• Vernon Dalhart, "The Great Titanic" (Champion 15121, 1926) (Radiex 4131 [as Jeff Calhoun], 1927) [I'm not certain this is the right placement for this song, but I'll bet ya. - PJS]

References

1. Randolph 693, "The Great Titanic" ("A" text only; Randolph's "B" text is "The Titanic I")
2. McNeil-SFB2, p. 104, "The Titanic" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. DT, TITANIC2*
4. Roud #3526
5. BI, R693A