The Sailor's Farewell

Twas on a dark and stormy night, the snow lay on the ground
A sailor boy stood on the deck, his ship was outward bound
His sweetheart standing by his side, shed many a bitter tear
And as he clasped her to his breast, he whispered in her ear.

Farewell, farewell my own true love, this parting gives me pain
You'll be my hope, my guide, my star, till I return again
My thoughts shall be of you my love, though storms be raging high
So fare thee well, remember me, your faithful sailor boy.

So with a gale, this ship set sail, he kissed his love goodbye,
She watched the vessel out of sight till a tear bedimmed her eye
She prayed to God in heaven above, to guide him on his way
But still her lover's parting words, re-echoed o'er the bay.

Farewell, farewell my own true love, this parting gives me pain
You'll be my hope, my guide, my star, till I return again
My thoughts shall be of you my love, though storms be raging high
So fare thee well, remember me, your faithful sailor boy.

But sad to say that silip returned without her sailor boy
For he had died while outward bound and his flag was half-mast high
And when his comrades came ashore and told her he was dead
A letter he had sent to her and this is how it read.

Farewell, farewell my own true love, on earth we'll meet no more
But we shall meet in Heaven above on that eternal shore
I know that in that land so bright, that land above the sky
We'll meet, we'll meet to part no more from your faithful sailor boy.

From the Grieg-Duncan Collection of Folk Songs
Collected from James. M. Taylor
RG