Hi All- I remember singing a song about the Titanic many moons ago at summer camp. All I can remember is the first verse: "Oh, they built the ship Titanic, to sail the ocean blue, and they thought they had a ship that the water wouldn't go through, but the Good Lord raised his hand and said, "That ship will never do!!" It was sad when the great ship went down, Oh, it was sad, so sad, it was sad, so sad, it was sad when the great ship went down, to the bottom of the Seee-eeee-eeeee-eeeeea! (descant sung during the "sea" part- "Husbands and wives and the children lost their lives") It was sad when the great ship went down!"

Does anyone remember (if there are..) any other verses? Thanks!

-- Laura (lrc@usit.net), January 18, 1998

Answers

Laura: I remember that also and also from a summer camp probably about 42 or 43 years ago! Sorry I can't remember where it came from but I do know it was very old and that there are several verses to it. I believe it went: Oh they built the ship Titanic to sail the ocean blue and they thought they had a ship that the sea would never leak through but the Lord's almighty hand said the ship would never stand; it was sad when the great ship went down. It was sad, Lord, sad; It was sad, Lord, sad; It was sad when the great ship went down (to the bottom of the....); Husbands and wives, little children lost there lives, it was sad when the great ship went down.... Consider yourself lucky that you aren't actually hearing me SING this either today or 43 years ago!!

-- Peter Nivling (pcnivling@capecod.net), January 19, 1998.

Oh My Goodness!! This is all too strange, because I thought the summer camp I went to had made up the song! How interesting. Anyway, since it was less than ten years ago that I attended that camp, I actually found myself singing the rest of the verses as I read your message. I believe they go somthing like this (after your first verse, which is correct):

"Nearing the shore, the water began to pour, and the rich refused to associate with the poor. So they sent them down below, where they'd be the first to go. It was sad when the great ship went down, down, down...."

"Lady Aster turned around, just to see her husband drown, as the ship Titanic made a gurgling sound. So she wrapped herself in mink as the ship began to sink. It was sad when the great ship went down, down, down...."

"The lifeboats were lowered into the raging sea, as the band struck up a [----I can't remember this little part----]. Little children wept and cried, as the waves rolled over the side. It was sad when the great ship went down, down, down...."

"The captain stood on deck, with a teardrop in his eye, as he waved the last lifeboat goodbye. He thought he'd made a slip, so he went down with his ship. It was sad when the great ship went down, down, down...."

"The moral of this story, as you can plainly see, is to wear a life preserver when going out to sea. It will keep you very happy, unto your heart's content. It was sad when the great ship went down, down, down...."

Wow. How funny that I can remember. Just out of curiosity, what summer camp did you sing this song at? Mine was in northern Michigan, on Walloon Lake, Camp Daggett. I hope I helped!

-- EJane (jkarary@umich.edu), January 19, 1998.

I've seen titanic three times now, and that song never even entered my head. But I sang it at my camp too, also about 10 years ago. The only part i could remember was the "husbands and wives, little children lost their lives..." but now it's all coming back to me. By the way, I went to Camp Lau-Ren in Deep River, Ontario, Canada. It must be a pretty popular song. Thanks for the extra verses!

-- mariana silva (msilva@igs.net), January 27, 1998.

I am currently a consillor at camp lauren and the "ship titanic" song is still around! There are many other verses and there is 2 different versions of the song!!

-- Erin J (eej_15@hotmail.com), May 17, 2002.

hey! i am a Leader at camp lauren now, and have been a councellor for 4 years before this, i love that song and sing i every year at camp! there is a 50th aniversary celebration this year for everyone so check it out at the camp lauren web page, just type in camp Lau-Ren in your saech thing and it shoudl come up

anyway long live camp!!

-- Sarah Stewart (stewy123@sympatico.ca), June 04, 2002.

I remember this song from my camp days in Maine from 1948 to 1969. There were many verses. -JG-

-- Jim Gould (gould.jim@verizon.com), August 05, 2002.

Yes, Camp Daggett does still sing that song too. I was a counselor at camp daggett 4 years ago, now i am the service director. ahh, cheers to the summer. =)

Mark, mark@etarq.com, www.etarq.com (www.campdaggett.com)

-- Mark Tarquini (mark@etarq.com), August 26, 2002.

I sang it many a times on the yellow school bus in N.Y.C we all sang: it was sad boo hoo (rubbing our eyes as if crying) it was sad boo hoo 1956 or 57!!!!

-- nona s.l. (nona1@bezeqint.net), December 01, 2002.

We sang this at Boy Scout Camp (Camp Onteora in the Catskills, now defunct)around 1962-63. I found your query because I was looking up the words for my nine-year-old son, and was fascinated to see how many versions there are. Our version was a bit different from any I have seen, e.g. "It was off the coast of Newfoundland, not many a mile from shore, when the rich refused to associate with the poor. So He sent them down below, where they'd be the first to go, it was sad . . " And also "So they launched the lifeboats out on the deep and raging sea, and the band struck up with "Nearer My God to Thee." Little children wept and cried as the waves swept overside, it was sad . . "

-- David Fried (d.fried@rcn.com), December 14, 2002.

Just wondering if anyone has the melody to this song. I have found many pages of lyrics but no melody and I can't remember how it sounds. I went to a camp in Prescott AZ in the late 60's and this was one of my favorite songs. I'd love to share it with my children. Thanks

-- Marta Greenleaf (gleafs@earthlink.net), January 19, 2003.

I sang this song as a camper and counselor at the City of Palo Alto (California) Day Camp at Foothill Park in the 70's! Seems the song has travelled quite a bit!

-- Jennifer Sandling (sand@gol.com), February 13, 2003.

A friend of mine sang this song many years ago in school in Manchester, England. She is currently doing a degree and her thesis is based on the Titanic story. Please does anyone know who wrote the original score to this much sung song and the date it was written? Thank you

-- Sheila Forshaw (sheila@banjo48.fsnet.co.uk), March 05, 2003.

Here's another website with additional verses and a music link (although we sang it at a much faster tempo at Camp Mater Dei in Jefferson County, MO in the 50's!)

http://www.musiclegacy.com/titanic.htm

Our words:

Oh they built the ship Titanic, and when that ship was through They said that water would never, ever go through But the Lord's Almighty Hand said that ship would never land It was sad when that great ship went down Hit the bottom!

(Chorus)

They started out from England, but never reached the shore Cause the rich refused to 'sociate with the poor So they put them down below where they were the first to go It was sad when that great ship went down Hit the bottom!

(chorus)

They put the life boats out on that roaring, raging sea As the band struck out with Nearer My God To Thee And the Captain tried to wire but the wire was on fire It was sad when that great ship went down Hit the bottom!

Chorus: It was sad, so sad, it was sad, so sad, It was sad when that great ship went down Hit the bottom of the sea Husbands and wives, little children lost their lives It was sad when that great ship went down

My children think I am a very sick woman when I sing this to them......

-- Donna McQueary (dmcqueary@amazingpictures.com), March 07, 2003.

I was a scout, and we sung this song too, but we had some different verses- "oh they built the ship titanic and they made it out of steel, and they said no storm could ever break her keel, but the (same as everyone else's)" we also had "Oh they built another ship and they called it Mary Lou and they built it out of rubber bands and glue. They christened it with beer and it sank right off the pier, it was sad when the great ship went down." I know theye was a verse where the second half was "Oh the Lord, he raised his hand, and he shot a rubber band, it was sad etc."

-- Matt (not@real.com), June 02, 2003.

im only 12... but heres a second verse oh they were not far from shore say a thousand miles or more, when the rich refused to associate with the poor, so they sent them down below where they were the first to go, it was sad when the great ship went down

-- cant tell (spaceboyd3@yahoo.com), July 08, 2003.

One version of the lyrics is:
Oh they built the ship Titanic, and when they had it done
well they thought they had a ship that the waters could not run
But the Lord's almighty hand said the ship would never stand
It was sad when the great ship went down.

chorus:
It was sad (so sad!) It was sad (so sad!)
It was sad when the great ship went down
to the bottom of the Husbands and wives little children lost their lives
It was sad when the gret ship went down

Well they were not far from England, they were not far from shore
When the rich refused to associate with the poor
So they put them down below where they were the first to go
It was sad when the great ship went down

chorus

Well they lowered down the lifeboats into the raging sea
and the band struck up with "Nearer My God to Thee"
Little children wept and cried as the waves crashed o'er the side
It was sad when the great ship went down

chorus

Well they built another ship and they called it Mary Lou
and the bow was painted pink and the stern was painted blue
and they christened it with beer and it sank right off the pier
It was GREAT when the SAD ship went down

It was great! (so great!) It was great! (so great!)
It was great when the sad ship went down
To the bottom of the
Uncles and Aunts little children lost their pants
It was great when the sad ship went down.


-- Hannah (hbj707@yahoo.com), July 15, 2003.

I have this song on an LP of "County and Western Hits" I will get it out and find out who the artist/composer was. I have listened to it, and it sounds a lot like the lyrics a lot of you have posted.

-- WK (k1@hotmail.com), July 19, 2003.

I ran a Google search on this song because I've taught my 5 and 8 yr- old kids the song, and they love it. I learned it from my sisters (who learned it at camp in the early 70s). That version was slightly darker, as follows...

Well they built the ship Titanic, and when it was through
They said, Here's the ship that the water will never go through
But the Lord, he raised his hand and said the ship it will not stand
It was sad when the great ship went down

Chorus:
It was sad (it was sad)
It was sad (it was sad)
It was sad when the great ship went down to the bottom of the (sea)
Husbands and wives, iddy biddy children lost their lives
It was sad when the great ship went down

Well they were not far from England, they were not far from shore
When the rich refused to associate with the poor
So they put them down below where they were the first to go
It was sad when the great ship went down

Well they put the lifeboats out on the cruel and raging sea
When the band started playing "Nearer My God to Thee"
Little children wept and cried as the waves went rolling by
It was sad when the great ship went down.

etc etc!

-- Peter (peterbshaw19066@yahoo.com), November 23, 2003.

I've heard this song for years (we even came up with some dirty verses in Boy Scout Camp 30 years ago!) and I still like it a lot. You can listen to an incredible bluegrass version of it on the CD "Fertile Ground" by the Dry Branch Fire Squad (along with some other truly fine bluegrass tunes!). Lyrics are printed (in a somewhat different form in the book "Rise Up Singing" published by "Sing Out" (this book is a MUST for any old-time picker/singer). Hope this helps!

-- Tony (campyfan@sbcglobal.net), December 21, 2003.

is very nicwe

-- bharath (bharath_scs@yahoo.co.in), April 03, 2004.

We were taught this song in elementary school in the 70s in Nebraska by our traving music teacher, I can only remember the first and last verses. We sang it .... Oh they built the ship Titanic to sail the ocean blue. and they thought they had a ship that the water would ne're go throug. But the good lord raised his hand .said the ship would never land. It was sad when the great ship went down.

Then the refrain that most of you know as I do.

The last verse was... Oh the moral of this story if you ever want to sail .Is to build yourself a ship that will never ever fail. The Titanic tragedy will go down in history. It was sad when the great ship went down.

Thats part of the version I learned.

-- Sandra (m.f.webb@comcast.net), April 23, 2004.

I love this song! I am 13 years old and this summer is going to be my 5th year attending Camp Daggett, we still sing it.

-- Tina K (tinyk2009@aol.com), April 24, 2004.

I need This song Please

-- Maen Al-newashi (maenget@yahoo.com), June 12, 2004.

I only remember 2 of the othe verses we sang:

They built another ship They called her Mary Jane The bow and the stern were painted just the same They christened her with beer And she sank right off the peir It was sad when the great ship went down.

Chorus

They built another ship They called her Mary Lou The whole darn thing was mad of Elmer's Glue They pushed her of the dock She sank just like a rock It was sad when the great ship whent down.

-- Joshua Dafoe (web@jjdafoe.fw.nu), June 13, 2004.

we are you see as me darlene peggy are back her's feet hearting and lol thanks

-- jamie culberson (Srossdreamer@aol.com), June 23, 2004.

i want titanic song! are you can give me song??? answer in the my email! I will wait....

-- Lukas (236191@one.lt), July 02, 2004.

My friend and I always sing the Titanic song when we are tubing on the lake, and I wanted to look up the words because we can only remember the last verse! It's suprising to see how many versions there are. The one we know begins "Oh we built this ship Titanic, and when we were all through we thought we had a ship that the water wouldnt go through but the lords almighty hand said the ship would never land it was sad when the great ship went down (Chorus) Oh it was sad (so sad) oh it was sad (too bad) it was sad when the great ship went down to the bottom of the see-eee-eee-eeea (husbands and wives, little children lost thier lives) it was sad when the great ship went down. (way down)" Thats all we remember! Oh wait. The last verse starts "So the moral of this story, as you can plainly see is to wear a life preserver when you go out to sea" That's it! If anyone knows the rest to this version, post!

-- Jenna (sassyrat2@aol.com), July 03, 2004.

I used to sing this song at school,spurley hey high school in gorton, manchester,in the '60's.It was in a song book which included 'Amazing Grace' and other tunes. Are there any mancunians who would know the full set of verses please. Thanks

-- karen wellings (k.wellings@notes.manchester.gov.uk), July 17, 2004.

This is the most complete version I could find. Sing the refrain in between each verse.

Refrain: It was sad! (so sad) It was sad (too bad) Oh it was sad when the great ship went down To the bottom of the sea (Husbands and wives little children lost their lives) It was sad when the great ship when down

Oh they built the ship Titanic To sail the ocean blue They thought they had a ship that the water couldn't go through But the good lord raised his hand said that ship would never land It was sad when the great ship went down.

Oh they sailed away from England But were not far from the shore when the rich refused to associate with the poor. So they put them down below where they'd be the first to go. It was sad when the great ship went down. Those people on that ship were a long ways from home, With friends all around they didn't know that the time had come; While some were homeward bound, Sixteen hundred soon would drown, It was sad when the great ship went down. It was on one Monday morning just about one o'clock When that great Titanic began to reel and rock; People began to scream and cry, Saying, "Lord, am I going to die?" It was sad when the great ship went down.

The boat was full of sin and the sides about to burst when the captain shouted "Women and children first". Then the captain tried to wire but the wireless was on fire. It was sad when the great ship went down.

So they swung the lifeboats out o'er the deep and raging sea and he band struck up the song "Nearer my god to thee". Little children wept and cried as the waves swept o'er the sides. It was sad when the great ship went down.

Well the captain stood on deck with a tear in his eye. And as the lifeboats left he waved them all good bye. But he thought he made a slip so he went down with the ship. It was sad when the great ship went down.

the moral of the story, as you can plainly see is to wear a life preserver when you go out to sea oh how the children must have criend as their parents washed over the side It was sad when the great ship went down. Well they built another ship and they called it Mary Lou and the bow was painted pink and the stern was painted blue and they christened it with beer and it sank right off the pier It was GREAT when the SAD ship went down It was great! (so great!) It was great! (so great!) It was great when the sad ship went down To the bottom of the Uncles and Aunts little children lost their pants It was great when the sad ship went down. They built another ship They called her Mary Jane The bow and the stern were painted just the same. They pushed her of the dock She sank just like a rock It was GREAT when the SAD ship went down It was great! (so great!) It was great! (so great!) It was great when the sad ship went down To the bottom of the Uncles and Aunts little children lost their pants It was great when the sad ship went down.

-- Alice (unique_freak37@hotmail.com), July 20, 2004.

Oh, did you hear that last verse that was made up a couple years ago?

Well they built a new titanic with computer animation and you might just call it a hollywood sensation but for two hundred thousand million bucks LONARDO REALLY SUCKS! It was glad when the great ship went down.

It was glad, so glad, it was glad when the great ship went down to the bottome with the husbands and wives Little lonnie lost his life! it was glad when the great ship went down.

-- not a looser (yahright@earthlink.net), July 28, 2004.

this is the verse me and my mates know:

they built the ship titanic,to sail the ocean blue, they thought they'd made a ship that the water could never get though, but the lord oh mighty said the ship would never stand,

oh it was sad when the great ship went down

it was sad, so sad it was sad,too bad it was sad when the great ship went down

husbands and wifes, little kiddies lost their lives,

it was sad when the great ship went down

well they sailed away from england, but were very close to shore, when the rich refused too associate with the poor, so they put the rich below were they were first to go

it was sad when the great ship went down

oh they threw the lifeboats out in the cruel and raging sea, when the band begun playing '' nearer my god to thee'' little children wept and cried as the waves went crashing by

it was sad when the great ship went down

the captain stood and cried with tears in his eyes, as the lifeboats sailed by he waved them all good bye, he thought he'd made a slip so he went down with his ship

oh it was sad when the great ship went down

it was sad so sad it was sad too bad it was sad when the great ship went down!!!

-- nadia (nadia15_uk@hotmail.com), August 11, 2004.

The song from TITANIC movie has songs when the greatest ship went down.Its called "Wedding dance,Nearer my god to thee,Orpheus,and Alexander's ragtime band".After the end credits the song was "My Heart will go on".

-- Dustin Dakota krueger (Hquidditchfan@aol.com), February 11, 2005.

What is all this about. I don't get anythin, I am looking for the famouse song that was sang for the movie Titanic in the end. lolz. Anyone knows how i get it.

-- Sultana Jan (sultana_sallam@hotmail.com), February 26, 2005.

You all remember this from camp. My aunt told me years ago that my grandmother played this on the piano and Aunt Adelia would sit next to her and cry because the song was so sad,then beg for grandma to play it again. She would have been about 7, so this would have been in 1917. All I remember is the chorus, so maybe Aunt Adelia didn't sing too well. Grandma died in 1928 and my aunt passed away several years ago, so I can't ask for an encore. I am sure the sheet music disintegrated years ago. Wouldn't be fun to find it in an antique store. I am sure the camp versions are a little more irreverent than the original lyrics.

-- Kathi Schmitt (kschmitt@yservicescorp.com), March 09, 2005.