{"id":2129,"date":"2020-04-15T16:34:42","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T16:34:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=2129"},"modified":"2021-04-10T13:08:06","modified_gmt":"2021-04-10T13:08:06","slug":"wait-for-the-turn-of-the-tide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/wait-for-the-turn-of-the-tide\/","title":{"rendered":"Wait for the turn of the tide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td>Waiting for the turn of the tide
Try to be happy and gay, my boys<\/td><\/tr>
First Pub<\/td>1867<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Lyrics<\/strong><\/td>Harry Clifton<\/td>Music<\/strong><\/td>Charles Coote Jnr<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>13888<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Music Hall performers<\/strong><\/td>Harry Clifton<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>In repertoire of Henry Burstow of Horsham<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
In sailing along the river of life\nOver it's waters wide\nWe all have to battle with trouble and strife\nAnd wait for the time and the tide\nMen of each other are prone to be jealous\nHopes are illusions and not what they seem\nLife and its pleasures philosophers tell us\nGo floating away like a leaf on the stream.\n\nThen try to be happy and gay my boys\nRemember the world is wide\nAnd Rome wasn't built in a day, my boys\nSo wait for the turn of the tide.<\/em>\n\nWhy people sit fretting their lives away\nI can't for a moment surmise\nIf life is a lottery as they say\nWe cannot all turn up a prize\nA folly it is to be sad and dejected\nIf 'fortune shows favours' she's fickle beside\nAnd may knock at your door some fine day unexpected\nIf you patiently wait for the turn of the tide.\n\nMan is sent into the world we're told\nTo do all the good that he can\nYet how many worship the chink of the gold\nAnd never once think of the man\nIf you are poor from your friends keep a distance\nHold up your head, tho' your funds are but small\nOnce let the world know you need its assistance\nBe sure then you never will get it at all.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Another motto song from Harry Clifton<\/a>. It was first published in 1867<\/a>, its likely Clifton started singing it around that time or a little earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This one appears widely in broadsides and songbooks in the second half of the 19th century, but does not appear to have been widely picked up by traditional singers on either side of the Atlantic in the 20th century. The title is included in a song list by Henry Burstow of Horsham (published 1911)  so we cannot be absolutely sure that is the same song….<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n