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Come all ye sons of Newfoundland who ofttimes life do save,
While I'll relate in language great about a hero brave,
Who nobly tried to save a boy and in the act went down —
Young Aspell from the Battery Road, a boy from St. John's town.
Young Carter that sad afternoon lighthearted left the town
To take a bath, the day being warm, near Bennett's Grove went down;
He divested of his clothing and boldly did leap in
When soon the boys around the bank saw Carter could not swim.
He must have went beyond his depth, the overfall did pass
Two youngsters sitting on the bank saw he was sinking fast.
"O save me, save me,' Carter cried; the boys for aid did bawl
Young Aspell strolling near the lake did hear the youngsters call.
He threw his coat upon the bank, rushed in the lake to try
With outstretched arms a brave attempt to save the drowning boy.
He caught his hand in death-like grasp and never reached the shore
But held him in is dying grasp and sank to rise no more.
Young Aspell was a model youth both religious, good, and kind
A fine and blooming clever lad his equals hard to find.
Hard luck he had betimes, perhaps his manner did not show
Just budding into manhood's bloom, it was a trying blow.
The prayer of many a sad, sad heart is gone to God on high
For to receive the pure young soul of that good saintly boy,
And fervent prayers from every home are offered, too, I'm sure
For mercy on young Aspell's soul to Him who loves the poor.
Collected in 1976 from Frankie Nash of Branch, NL, by Genevieve Lehr and Anita Best and published as #4 in Come And I Will Sing You: A Newfoundland Songbook, pp.7-8, edited by Genevieve Lehr (University of Toronto Press © 1985/2003).
Genevieve Lehr noted that the song concerns the drowning of John Aspell and F. Carter in July, 1902, when Aspell attempted to save Carter's life at Quidi Vidi, a small outport community near St. John's. The composer, Johnny Burke, was a well-known St. John's balladeer who composed numerous popular songs including The Kelligrews Soiree and The Trinity Cake.
From Interesting Transcripts of Newfoundland Cemetery Headstones: Entry STJ56-9709 — Our darling Thomas Francis (Carter) who was drowned while bathing in Quidi Vidi Lake, July 16, 1902, aged 15 years & 9 months. (Son of) Edward F. & Mary Carter.
