THE BAY OF BISCAY
Traditional


Loud roars the dreadful thunder,
The rain a deluge show'rs;
The clouds are rent asunder
By lightning's vivid pow'rs;
The night was drear and dark;
Our poor devoted bark
Till next day, there she lay,
In the Bay of Biscay, O!

Now dash'd upon the billow
Her op'ning timbers creak;
Each fears a wat'ry pillow,
None stop the dreadful leak:
To cling to slipp'ry shrouds
Each breathless seaman crowds,
As she lay, till next day,
In the Bay of Biscay, O!

At length the wished for tomorrow
Breaks thro' the hazy sky;
Absorb'd in silent sorrow,
Each heaves a bitter sigh:
The dismal wreck to view
Strikes horror to the crew,
As she lay, on that day,
In the Bay of Biscay, O!

Her yielding timbers sever,
Her pitchy seams are rent;
When heav'n, all bounteous ever,
Its boundless mercy sent:
A sail in sight appears,
We hail her with three cheer!
Now we sail, with the gale,
From the Bay of Biscay, O!