Digital Tradition Mirror

On the Seas and Far Away

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

On the Seas and Far Away
(Robert Burns)

How can my poor heart be glad
When absent from my Sailor lad;
How can I the thought forego
He's on the seas to meet the foe.
Let me wander, let me rove
Still my heart is with my love
Nightly dreams and thoughts by day
Are with him that's far away.

cho: On the seas and far away
     On stormy seas and far away
     Nightly dreams and thoughts by day
     Are ay with him that's far away.

When in summer noon I faint
As weary flocks around me pant
Haply in the scorching sun
My Sailor's thundering at his gun:
Bullets spare my only joy!
Bullets spare my darling boy!
Fate do with me what you may,
Spare but him that's far away.

cho: On the seas and far away
     On stormy seas and far away
     Fate do with me what you may
     Spare but him that's far away.

At the starless midnight hour
When Winter rules with boundless power;
As the storms the forest tear
And thunders rend the howling air:
Listening to the doubling roar
Surging on the rocky shore
All I can--I weep and pray
For his weal that's far away

cho: On the seas and far away
     On stormy seas and far away
     All I can--I weep and pray
     For his weal that's far away

Peace thy olive wand extend
And bid wild war his ravage end,
Man with brother Man to meet
And as a brother kindly greet:
Then may heaven with prosperous gales
Fill thy Sailor's welcome sails
To my arms their charge convey
My dear lad that's far away.

cho: On the seas and far away
     On stormy seas and far away
     To my arms their charge convey
     My dear lad that's far away.

RG

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!