The lyrics for several of the relevant songs are set forth below in chronological order of recording, with composer credits shown in brackets (with respect to which, note the "sibling rivalry" for such credit on the Clara Smith and Sara Martin sides). The Clara Smith side and, in particular, the Martin side (with its "tango" accompaniment) are notable for their minor key (which should get them mention in another thread here). The treatment of the first two verses in the Bessie Smith piece is particularly interesting in what is arguably its shift of the 9-10 bar lyrics to the 5-6 bars.
You can listen to the sides by the Smiths, Martin and Johnson on
www.redhotjazz.com.
In the late 1930s, Walter Davis also recorded a song entitled "Lifeboat Blues," but I don't have (or at least can't find) a copy of and don't recall having heard it; I would be grateful if anyone else has and would let me know if it is based on Carr's song.
Clara Smith, "Shipwrecked Blues," recorded 3 April 1925 [Spencer Williams]
Ah, the gale is raging, and my ship without a sail.
Ah, the gale is raging, and my ship without a sail.
If the wind keeps on a-blowing, I won't be left to tell the tale.
Ah, the ship is sinking, and the lightning struck the mast.
Ah, the ship is sinking, and the lightning struck the mast.
And my crew is done deserted, I've got to stick here to the last.
Ah, I don't mind drowning, but the water is so cold.
No, I don't mind drowning, but the water is so cold.
If I must leave this good world, I want to leave it brave and bold.
Mama's shipwrecked, shipwrecked, she ain't got no time to lose.
Mama's shipwrecked, shipwrecked, she ain't got no time to lose.
Lord, if someone don't save me, I'll go down singing the shipwreck blues.
Sara Martin, "Shipwrecked Blues," recorded 5 September 1926 [Clarence Williams]
Oh, the gale is raging, and my ship's without a sail.
Oh, the gale is raging, and my ship's without a sail.
If the wind keeps on blowing, I won't be left to tell the tale.
Now my ship is sinking, and the lightning struck the mast.
Now the ship is sinking, and the lightning struck the mast.
And my crew done deserted, I've got to stick it to the last.
With no life preserver, tell me what I am to do.
With my life preserver, tell me what I am to do.
If my ship hits the bottom, I know I'll float the ocean blue.
Lord, I don't mind drowning, but the water is so cold.
No, I don't mind drowning, but the water is so cold.
If I must leave this good world, I want to leave it brave and bold.
Mama's shipwrecked, shipwrecked, she ain't got no time to lose.
Mama's shipwrecked, shipwrecked, she ain't got no time to lose.
Lord, if someone don't save me, I'll go down singing shipwrecked blues.
Lonnie Johnson , "Life Saver Blues," recorded 9 November 1927
It's raining and storming on the sea, we're miles and miles from shore.
It's raining and storming on the sea, we're miles and miles from shore.
The way the waves is rocking the ship, we won't see home no more.
The wind is so strong, turning this old ship round and round.
These waves is so strong, turning this old ship round and round.
Something tells me won't be long before we're sinking down.
The captain say, "Get your life savers fasten them around your waist."
Captain say, "Get your life savers and fasten them around your waist.
Because we're sinking down, and the lifeboat is your safest place."
And we floated all night long in the storm, lost miles and miles from shore.
And the water was freezing and the rain began to pour.
I say, "Girls and boys, let's pray, cause we won't see home no more."
[Instrumental break]
Uncle Sam's ship was coming painted in red, white and blue.
Uncle Sam's ship was coming painted in red, white and blue.
We say we live in New York City, red and white blue brought us all the way through.
Leroy Carr, "Lifeboat Blues," recorded 19 March 1929 [Carr]
We was on a lifeboat in the middle of the sea.
We was on a lifeboat in the middle of the sea.
I began to wonder what would become of me.
The storm was rising, and the wind began to blow.
The storm was rising, and the wind began to blow.
The boat was sinking, and we had no place to go.
The captain hollered, "Let the lifeboat down."
The captain hollered, "Let the lifeboat down.
This boat is sinking, and we will surely drown."
I put my baby in the lifeboat and kissed her bye, bye, bye.
I put my baby in the lifeboat and kissed her bye, bye, bye.
I hated to leave her, and I stood on the deck, and I cried.
Early the next morning, another boat it came along.
Early the next morning, another boat it came along.
When I woke up, I was in my baby's arms.
Bessie Smith, "Shipwreck Blues," recorded 11 June 1931
Captain, tell your men to get on board.
Cast your sail just pull into another shore.
I'm dreary in mind, and I'm so worried in heart.
All the best friends sure has got to part.
Blow your whistle, Captain, so your men will know what to do.
Blow your whistle, Captain, so your men'll know what to do.
When a woman gets dreary, ain't no telling what she won't do.
[Instrumental break]
It's cloudy outdoors as can be.
Oh, it's cloudy as can be.
That's the time I need my good man with me.
[Instrumental break]
It's raining, and it's storming on the sea.
It's raining, it's storming on the sea.
I feel like somebody has shipwrecked poor me.