Motley Words

Oh wild and furious blew the blast,
And the clouds were hanging round,
When the Dandenong from Melbourne sailed,
To Newcastle port was bound,
She had eighty three poor souls on board,
Through the storm she cleaved her way,
and it’s sad to relate her terrible fate,
Was just off Jervis bay,

{Chorus}
And I dream of you, I dream of sleep,
I dream of being warm,
But through the night I have to sail,
To brave this raging storm,

While steaming through the briny waves,
Her propeller shaft gave way,
And the waters they came rushing in,
Which filled them with dismay,
All hands on board did all they could,
‘Til at length all hope was gone,
And they hoisted a signal of distress,
On board of the Dandenong,

{Chorus}
And I dream of you, I dream of sleep,
I dream of being warm,
But through the night I have to sail,
to brave this raging storm,

It was not long until a barque,
A – brisk and lively crew,
Came bearing down and the Captain cried,
“We’ll see what we can do!”
Came bearing down with might and main,
In spite of wind and wave,
They did all they could as sailors would,
Those precious lives to save.

{Chorus}
And I dream of you, I dream of sleep,
I dream of being warm,
And pray the sea will leave me be
to see another dawn,

Well some in boats they tried to reach,
That kind and friendly barque,
And numbers of their lives were saved,
But the night came on pitch dark,
What mortal man could then do more,
When the storm increased on strong,
And the rest now sleep in the briny deep,
Along with the Dandenong.

{Chorus}
And I dream of you, I dream of sleep,
I dream of coming home,
Tonight the waters bury me
Beneath this raging foam.
And I dream of you…