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lyrics

Verse 1
Just married and the world seemed new [SAY A PRAYER, MARYANNE]
It was August 1942 [SAY A PRAYER, MARYANNE]
He was the boatswain on the Cruiser Canberra
The young woman’s name was Maryanne
Say a prayer for a lonely sailor [SAY A PRAYER, MARYANNE]

Verse 2
On the docks there were children waving [SAY A PRAYER, MARYANNE]
To the boys of his majesty’s navy [SAY A PRAYER, MARYANNE]
Set sail for the Solomon Islands
There to fight for and airstrip at Henderson Field
Say a prayer for a lonely sailor [SAY A PRAYER, MARYANNE]

Verse 3
A rainy night and the wind blew somber [SAY A PRAYER, MARYANNE]
They were anchored north of Manimatomba [SAY A PRAYER, MARYANNE]
Round the point of Savo Island
Four Jap Destroyers with their 8 inch guns ablaze
Not a prayer for the Cruiser Canberra [SAY A PRAYER, MARYANNE]

Instrumental

Verse 4
I went down to the beach last Saturday [SAY A PRAYER, MARYANNE]
Took my nephew for a swim at Manly [SAY A PRAYER, MARYANNE]
On a bench there among the seagulls
An old woman sat staring out to sea
Say a prayer for a lonely sailor [SAY A PRAYER, MARYANNE]
Say a prayer for a lonely sailor [SAY A PRAYER, MARYANNE]
Say a prayer for a lonely sailor [SAY A PRAYER, MARYANNE]

credits

from Urban Sea Shanties, released September 2, 2020

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Fred Smith Canberra, Australia

“Fred Smith is simply the best folk/country musician working in this country in 2020. Beyond writing some of the finest songs about Australians at war, he has created a repertoire that is wry, literate, witty, powerfully emotional and insightful.”(Bruce Elder, Sydney Morning Herald). ... more

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