TITANIC'S NOBLE BAND
O'er great Atlantic's waters,
Old Father Neptune's pride,
On a starry night in April,
Oh, see Titanic ride!
This spacious Queen of steamers
Holds high her masted head
For she believes all waters
Are conquered by her tread.
"Alas, vain Queen, you're speeding
Unto a watery tomb!"
So telegraphed the breezes
To save her from her doom.
But she no heed gave to them
And faster forged ahead
When suddenly before her—
Old Neptune's giant iceberg
Shone white beneath the sky
His icy breath gave warning
"Don't touch me or you die."
But heedless to this warning
The ship steered on her way
And struck the icy monster
For which her life did pay.
With his great strength this giant
Then rent her sides in twain
And left her floundering helpless
Upon the boundless main.
Her passengers in terror
Rushed to the upper deck
And there her Captain told them
"Titanic is a wreck.
"And all the little children
And women in great haste
Must go aboard the life boat,
But when these little children
Held to their fathers' hand
And wives clung to their husbands
They heard this dread command—
"The boats are but for women,
All men on deck must stay
And wait till help comes to us—
There is no other way."
But those who loved their husbands
And were most loyal wives
Refused to leave the men they loved
To save their own poor lives.
Then rough hands tore asunder
The arms of love entwined,
And threw the wives into the boats
And left the men behind.
But while the cries of parting
With grief all hearts did tear,
The band of the Titanic
Of jolly ragtime music
And glad notes of good cheer,
As if to tell the people
There was no cause to fear.
Since aid would soon come flying
And all would rescued be,
So why should hearts be saddened
When bandmen played with glee.
Down, down Titanic's going,
But still the band plays on,
The brave men know they're sinking
That they will soon be gone.
But how can they die better
Than giving helping cheer
To those who from Death's waters
Are trembling in great fear.
So as the water covers
The deck just at their feet,
They play with solemn fervor
And, "Nearer, oh, my God, to Thee,
And nearer yet to Thee,"
Gave courage to the drowning men
Who struggled in the sea.
For Colonel Astor, Major Butt
And learned William Stead,
And many other noble men
We mourn Titanic's dead.
And with them we all honor
The band who cheered their way
To meet the ever-dreaded King
To whom all lives must pay.
Concerning this jingle Elbert Hubbard said: "Dear Little Friend: This is your masterpiece of word painting descriptive of courage, anguish and man's helplessness."