American Folk Song 'Across The Western Ocean'

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Across the Western Ocean “Across the Western Ocean” is an American folk song arranged by composer Celius Dougherty. Although the song is American, the lyrics of the song detail the dangerous voyage the Irish immigrants of the early-to-mid 19th century had to undertake to come to the United States. “Across the Western Ocean” was arranged by Dougherty in 1948, and published in his compilation “Five Sea-Chanties” (“Five Sea Chanties”). “Across the Western Ocean” tells the tale of immigrants who have sailed to the United States from Ireland in search of a better life and promises of wealth, prosperity and gold. Although the era the song’s lyrics reference is uncertain, certain lines like “the times are hard and the wages low” likely refer to

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