Traditional

‘Twas on a dark and cheerless night
To the south’ard of the Cape,
And from a strong nor’wester
We had just made our escape.
Like an infant in its cradle,
All hands were fast asleep,
And peacefully we sailed along
The bosom of the deep,
Peacefully we sailed along the bosom of the deep.

At length our helmsman gave a cry
Of terror and of fear,
As if he had just gazed upon
Some sudden danger near.
The seas around were clad in foam
And just upon our lee
We saw The Flying Dutchman
Come bounding o’er the sea,
We saw The Flying Dutchman come bounding o’er the sea.

“Take in our lofty canvas, lads,”
Our watchful master cried,
“For me and my ship’s company,
Some sudden danger bides.
For every seaman who rounds the Cape,
Although he knows no fear,
Yet knows that there is danger
When Vanderdecken’s near,
He knows that there is danger when Vanderdecken's near.

“Here comes The Flying Dutchman
Like an eagle o’er the sea!
Pursued along by tempests dire,
He makes for Table Bay.
Pursued along by tempests dire,
The lightning’d waves’ accursed,
And ere he can cast anchor
The bay, alas, is past,
And ere he can cast anchor, the bay, alas, is past.

“Let’s pity poor Vanderdecken,
For fearful is his doom:
The seas around this stormy Cape
Must be his living tomb!
He’s doomed to sail the ocean
Forever and a day,
As he tries in vain his oath to keep
By entering Table Bay,
He tries in vain his oath to keep by entering Table Bay.”

And as we watched that spectral vessel
Disappear from sight,
Our master glanced to starboard
And he gave a cry of fright.
A mighty ring of coral loomed
Beneath the dashing wave,
And many shipmates went that night
Unto a salt-sea grave,
And many shipmates went that night unto a salt-sea grave.