"Lady Franklin's Lament" - Canadian Folk Ballad

"Lady Franklin's Lament" is a traditional folk ballad that recounts the story of a sailor who dreams about Lady Franklin speaking of the loss of her husband. Sir John Franklin, along with his crew, vanished in Baffin Bay during his ill-fated 1845 expedition through the Arctic Ocean, in search of the Northwest Passage sea route to the Pacific Ocean.
Following his disappearance, Lady Franklin sponsored seven expeditions to find some trace of her husband. Through her sponsorship, influence, and offering of sizeable rewards, she supported numerous other searches. Her efforts brought great publicity to the expedition's fate. In 1854, Scottish explorer Dr. John Rae discovered evidence through talking to Inuit hunters, among others that the expedition had wintered in 1845-46 on Beechey Island. The expedition's ships, HMS Terror and HMS Erebus, became trapped in ice off King William Island in September 1846 and never sailed again. According to a note later found on that island, Franklin died there on 11 June 1847. The exact location of his grave remains unknown.
The song first appeared as a Broadside ballad around 1850 and has since been recorded with the melody of the Irish traditional air "Cailín Óg a Stór" (The same tune utilized by "The Croppy Boy" and "A Sailor's Life / Sweet William". Originating in one of the Maritime provinces of Canada, the song has also been found in the repertoires of Ireland and Scotland.
Performed by David Coffin, Safe in the Harbour, 2019.