By the Lightning We Lost our Sight [Laws K6]

DESCRIPTION: The singer is on a journey from Gibraltar to England when a hurricane strikes. Sent aloft to reef the sails, he and four others are blinded when lightning strikes the mast. The storm washes several others overboard. (The singer marries but remains blind)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1883 (Smith/Hatt/Fowke-SeaSongsBalladFromNineteenthCenturyNovaScotia)
KEYWORDS: sailor storm death disability
FOUND IN: Canada(Mar,Newf) US(NE)
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Laws K6, "By the Lightning We Lost Our Sight"
Mackenzie-BalladsAndSeaSongsFromNovaScotia 86, "By the Lightning We Lost Our Sight" (1 text)
Smith/Hatt/Fowke-SeaSongsBalladFromNineteenthCenturyNovaScotia, pp. 76-78, "The Blind Sailor" (1 text)
Lane/Gosbee-SongsOfShipsAndSailors, p. 152, "The Lightning Flash" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT 557, LIGHTNNG
Roud #1894
RECORDINGS:
Morris Houlihan, "Come All Ye Jolly Sailor Boys" (on MUNFLA/Leach)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Captain Burke" [Laws K5]
File: LK06

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