Death of Lord Franklin - the most perfect folk song I know

This song is variously known as: "The Death of Lord Franklin", or "Lady Franklin's Lament" or "The Sailor's Lament"

It is based on the true story of Lord Franklin's ill-fated expedition when he sailed from England in May 1845 to locate the North-West Passage around the north of the American continent. This is a common version of the song, except I add one less frequently sung verse - "I dreamed I knew the English shore" - and I put it near the beginning of the song rather than at the end.

I play the tune on an English concertina, invented by Sir Charles Wheatstone in 1829 (also the inventor of the 'Wheatstone Bridge'). The concertina is the only musical instrument known definitely to have been invented by an Englishman.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• concertina
• trad
• traditional
• folk
• music
• England
• Canada
• Greenland
• America
• English
• expedition
• North
• West
• Passage
• Lord
• Franklin
• Lady
• national
• hero
• failure
• maritime
• nautical
• sea
• ocean
• sail
• sailing
• boat
• ship
• ice
• winter
• death
• acoustic
• live
• history
• survival
• climate
• iceberg
• snow
• cold
• freezing
• frozen
• Eskimo
• canoe
• hammock
• asleep
• dream
• crew
• sailor
• passage
• pole
• Baffin
• whale
• whalefish
• arctic
• storm
• cruise
• marine
• water
• northwest
• north
• west

[ianpage99]

Thank you redsquier. I'm pleased that you liked it; and that you commented. It is nice to get feedback.

[ianpage99]

@11gokey I am pleased that you enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I still love this song. Years of repetition in pub sessions have only made it more pleasurable for me to sing it.

[MrSlocad1]

What a great rendition. I had only ever heard that of Louis Killen. Both of you do the song justice. Many thanks. I would like to hear this live.

[ianpage99]

@MrSlocad1 Thank you. I feel honoured to be compared at all with Louis. I'd be glad to play it live to you but it would mean you making the journey to Oxford. From Turkey that would be quite a journey though!

[guywolff]

What very wonderful layering here .. Just great . All the best , Guy

[ianpage99]

Thank you so much Guy. For me, 'Franklin' is simply the most perfect folk song I know. There is always a 'hush' when I sing this - even in a noisy pub!

[redsquier375]

This is a great version. I love the concertina.

[11gokey]

You are correct. This is a great folk song. And, you do it much justice. I could listen for hours!

[ianpage99]

@squeezy99 Thank you for your comment. I have now picked up a few nice things from your channel, so thanks again.

[squeezy99]

Very nice!