Cecil Gone in the Time of Storm

DESCRIPTION: In 1933, young Cecil sails to Mastic Point; he vanishes. After eight days they search. Cecil's mother finds the boat but not him; singer says Cecil's been drowned, and the mother falls on the ground in agony, asking God to make peace with his soul
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1958 (recording, Frederick McQueen & group)
LONG DESCRIPTION: In 1933, young Cecil decides to sail to Mastic Point; he gets in the boat and sets off, but vanishes. After eight days his family and friends search; his uncle says he made it as far as Nicholas Town, but he hasn't been seen since. Singer meets Cecil's mother, who says she's found the boat but not him; singer says Cecil's been drowned, and the mother falls on the ground in agony, asking God to make peace with his soul
KEYWORDS: grief travel death drowning mourning sea ship disaster storm wreck family mother
FOUND IN: West Indies(Bahamas)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
ADDITIONAL: Harold Courlander, _A Treasury of Afro-American Folklore_, Crown Publishers, 1976, pp. 140-142, "Cecil Lost in the Storm" (1 text, 1 tune)
RECORDINGS:
Frederick McQueen & group, "Cecil Gone in the Time of Storm" (on MuBahamas2)
NOTES [41 words]: Although Frederick McQueen certainly shaped the song into its most-sung form, Samuel Charters notes that there is evidence Willie Bullard from Long East Cay was singing the song in the 1930s. As a result, I've left the author field "Unknown." - PJS
Last updated in version 3.4
File: RcCGITOS

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