Crossing the Bar

Crossing the Bar is the eleventh track on Between Wind and Water.

Originally a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson, about which a great deal has been written in the literary community.

Reputed to have been first set to music by Rani Arbo in the 1990s, numerous other arrangements have been made but the Arbo version persists and is the version closest to the arrangement used by the Longest Johns.

Factoids
Near the time of his death, Tennyson requested that his son have Crossing the Bar published at the end of all future publishing of his work.

Lyrics
The Longest Johns remain faithful to the original text of the work, but include the chorus format used by Arbo.

Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me, And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea When I put out to sea, When I put out to sea, And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep, Turns again home. Turns again home, Turns again home, That which drew from out the boundless deep, Turns again home Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark; For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my pilot face to face When I have crost the bar. When I have crost the bar, when I have crost the bar, I hope to see my pilot face to face, When I have crost the bar