Twas an early day in May
in nineteen hundred and three
I bade farewell to the home of my birth
to cross the briny sea

With many a tear and fond word
I took myself away
to see what fortune had in store
beyond the tossing frae

On second May we did set sail
upon the ship Sardinian
five hundred emigrants her freight
all abound for the Dominian

As down the Clyde we gently sailed
into the busy Firth
Full many a man shed tears to leave
the land that gave him birth

Then through the Irish Channel
out to the swollen deep
the passengers retired to rest
but few to have sound sleep

The bed was very comfy
the grub was plenty enough
the coffee was unsavoury
the meat was oucht but tough

We woke next morning early
upon the raging main
I was not sick but thought
I'd never see land again

 

 

Two days upon the water
Without a site of land
the rolling waves around us
this cheerful happy band

The third day in the distance
a little speck we spied
on to it crept 'till clear view
'A ship' the crew all cried

Next morning at the dawning
we found this ship abreast
Her motion power was greater
and so she proved the best

She crossed her bows at midday
and sailing duly west
our prayer "God save the cargo
and may you truly trust"

For two or more days we sailed away
amid the loss and tumble
the storage oft' times found cause
to grumble, grumble, grumble

A bird upon the water
the only sign of life
sent by the creator
to wean from sinful strife

Now all who are despondant
here is a chance once more
forgetting things behind
and proving things before

 

 

At three o'clock on Saturday
we saw on our port side
two great monster icebergs
a floating with the tide

As round Cape Race we ploughed our way
on Sunday morning early
Newfoundland's coast was clear in view
the snow clad hills show clearly

Then passed two Frenchy islands
into the gulf of St. Lawrence
the ragged coast seemed cold and bare
and had a bleak appearance

When we first saw Canadian soil
it did look a treat
the bonnie hills were clad with snow
the woods and valleys sweet

Then passed Cape Gas..that point of land
thats juts into the river
the St. Lawrence banks a lovely sight
a sight to remember forever

 

Hugh Baird

1903