'twas homeward bound one night on the deep
swinging in my hammock I fell asleep
I dreamed a dream and I thought it true
concerning Franklin and his gallant crew

with 100 seamen he sailed away
to the frozen ocean in the month of may
to seek a passage around the pole
where we poor seamen do sometimes go

through cruel hardships they remained strong
their ship on mountains of ice was thrown
only the eskimo in his skin canoe
was the only one that ever came through

from baffin bay where the whale fish blow
the fate of Franklin no man may know
the fate of Franklin no tongue can tell
Lord Franklin alone with his sailors doing well

and now my body it gives me pain
my long lost Franklin I'll cross the main
10 000 crowns would I freely give
to say on earth my Franklin lives