“The Titanic (V) (Many Hearts Surrendered to the Shipwreck) (Titanic #5)”

Description

"The Titanic left Southhampton With all its sports and gang, When they struck the iceberg, I know their mind was changed." The story of the wreck is briefly told, with a mention of John Jacob Astor, who is credited with trying to save the women

Supplemental text

Titanic (V), The (Many Hearts Surrendered to the Shipwreck) (Titanic #5)
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Emelyn Elizabeth Gardner and Geraldine Jencks Chickering,
Ballads and Songs of Southern Michigan, p. 295. Collected
"in 1931... from Miss Madeline Baker... of Wayne University."

The Titanic left Southhampton
With all its sports and gang,
When they struck the iceberg,
I know their mind was changed.

Chorus
Many hearts surrendered to the shipwreck;
On the sea many hearts surrendered,
Crying "Nearer My God to Thee."

A man, John Jacob Astor,
A man with pluck and brains,
When that great ship was going down,
All the women he tried to save.

(Stanzas 1, 5 of 5)

Notes

Perhaps best recognized by the chorus:

Many hearts surrendered to the shipwreck;

On the sea many hearts surrendered,

Crying "Nearer My God to Thee."

This even though, as we've said in the notes to all the other _Titanic_ songs, the band did not play "Nearer My God to Thee"; it played light music to prevent panic.

John Jacob Astor (1864-1912) did indeed die on the _Titanic_, though I don't know of any evidence that he was the prime mover in saving women and children. In fact, the only report I know of about his behavior while aboard was that, when the lifeboats were being loaded with women and children, he tried to make his way aboard the lifeboat holding his (trophy) wife. He had to be ordered back by the crew.

This is item dD41 in Laws's Appendix II. Roud lumps this with The _Titanic_ (VI), but I don't see any common elements except the boat.

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Historical references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)

References

1. Gardner/Chickering 120, "The Titanic" (1 text)
2. ST GC120 (Partial)
3. Roud #3525
4. BI, GC120