Monica Grabin: Music/Programs

I don’t know when I first heard this song, but whenever it was it knocked me out. It’s about a true event, a hurricane in the Bahamas in 1929, before storms were named. It’s got terrific energy and I love singing it, but I have to carry a chorus around in my back pocket. Thank heaven for multiple tracks.

LYRICS

It was 19 hundred and twenty-nine
(Run, come see, run, come see!)
I remember that day pretty well
19 hundred and twenty nine.
Run, come see Jerusalem.

My god they were talking about a storm on the island,
But it was a beautiful morning.

My God there were three sails leaving out the harbor,
They were bound for Andros that morning.

There was the Ethel and the Myrtle and Pretoria.
With the women and the children on board..

My God the Ethel was bound for Stanniard Creek,
My God what a beautiful morning.

My God well the Myrtle was bound for the Fresh Creek
With all the women and children on board.

My God well the Pretoria was out on the ocean,
Tossing from side to side on the waves.

My God then a big sea built up in the northwest,
Children run, come lookin' for their mamas.

My God now the first sea hit the Pretoria,
And the captain come, running for the tiller.

My God now it sank the boat down to the bottom,
Mothers screamed, come a-running for their children.

My God there were thirty-three souls on the water,
Singing and praying to the Daniel God .

Now George Brown he was the captain,
He said my children come pray.

He said now come now witness your judgment,
Oh, my little children pray.