Main-Truck, The (A Leap for Life; The Captain's Son)

DESCRIPTION: "Old Ironsides at anchor lay, In the harbor of Mahon," where the captain's son climbs the mast and cannot get down. The captain takes a gun and orders the boy to jump or he'll shoot. The boy jumps into the sea and survives
AUTHOR: Words:George P. Morris / Music: Henry Russell (source: sheet music published by J. W. Peters & Sons)
EARLIEST DATE: 1845 (sheet music)
KEYWORDS: ship children rescue
FOUND IN: US(MA)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Shoemaker-MountainMinstrelsyOfPennsylvania, pp. 115-117, "Old Ironsides" (2 texts) (p. 97 in the 1919 edition has a single text)
Lane/Gosbee-SongsOfShipsAndSailors, p. 204, "Old Ironsides" (1 text, 1 tune, composite)
Roud #14089 and 24875
NOTES [34 words]: Reportedly based on a tale by William Leggett. The original title was apparently "The Main-Truck; Or, A Leap for Life A Nautical Ballad."
For background on Henry Russell, see "Cheer, Boys, Cheer (II)." - RBW
Last updated in version 6.4
File: Shoe115

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