Sea Fever [MASEFIELD poem set to music]
Channel: tobydarling
Date: 2014-06-28

Here is John Masefield's famous poem Sea Fever, from his 'Salt Water Ballads' published in 1902.

Score/midi/mp3 available free on request.

The video was taken on the Wightlink ferry from Lymington to Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.

Sea Fever
BY JOHN MASEFIELD



G#m B C#m E F#m B C#m 
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
C#m E F#m G#m B A C#m
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
E B C#m F#m A B C#m
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
A B C#m F#m B A C#m
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking,
 
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
 
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.