Asleep in the Deep

AKA Dark is the night
First Published 1897
Lyrics Arthur J Lamb Music HW Petrie Roud RN23790

Music Hall Performers GH Chirgwin
Folk performances Source Singers
Copper, Jim 1936 England : Sussex
[Male singer] 1975 England : Yorkshire
Ellaway, Arthur 1977 England : Gloucestershire
Modern performances		 

Stormy the night and the waves roll high
Bravely the ship doth ride
Hark while the lighthouse bell's solemn cry
Rings o'er the sullen tide
There on the deck see two lovers stand
Heart to heart beating and hand in hand
Though death be near, she knows no fear
While at her side is one of all most dear.

Loudly the bell in the old tower rings
Bidding us list to the warning it brings
Sailor take care, sailor take care
Danger is near thee, beware, beware.
Beware, beware.
Many brave hearts are asleep in the deep
So beware, beware.
Many brave hearts are asleep in the deep
So beware, beware.

What of the storm when the night is o'er
There is no trace or sign
Save where the wreckage has strewn the shore
Peaceful the sun doth shine
But when the wild raging storm did cease
Under the billows two hearts found peace
No more to part, no more of pain
The bell may now toll its warning in vain.

Asleep in the Deep was a popular early 20th century parlour ballad, sung by bass opera singers like Norman Allin (1884-1973) and Peter Dawson (1882-1962). The song comes from the minstrel entertainers – it was written and composed by two former blackface minstrels: the words were by Arthur J Lamb (1870 – 1928) whose greatest hit was Only a bird in a gilded cage, the music by Henry W Petri (1857 – 1925).

George H Chirgwin (1854-1924), a blackface Music Hall performer with a repertoire of tear-jerking songs, sang a parody of this song.

The song has been collected from a couple of traditional source singers, and was in Jim Copper’s song book. At the moment I have been unable to access the recordings or the song book of Jim Copper so I’m not sure whether they are singing the original or a parody. I suspect it’s more likely that they picked this song up from sources other than the music hall stage…but more work to do here!

Sources:

Chirgwin’s parody: