Welcome Home My Sailor

From Dorman Ralph, of White Bay, NL


One night as I roved out, it being dark all over

The moon gave out no light, I could scarce discover.

Down by a briny beach where ships were sailing,

A comely maid I spied, weeping and wailing.


I boldly stepped to her and I asked what grieved her,

The answer that she gave was none could relieve her,

“My own true love's last prayer was to cross the ocean

My heart is like a wave, always in motion.”


I said, “My fair young maid, mark well my story

For your true love and I fought for England's glory

By one unlucky shot he from me was parted

And by our foe's last shot, died broken hearted.


He said before he died that his heart was broken

'I'll give you my gold ring, take it for a token

Give it to my true love there is none who's fairer

And tell her to prove true, and wed the bearer'


And when she heard these words, she fell distracted

She knew not what she felt, nor how she acted

She wrang and tore her hair, like one in anger

'Young man you've come too late, I'll wed no stranger.'”


And when I heard these words, my love grew stronger

I fell into her arms, I could stay no longer

We both sat down to sing, and she sang clearest

Like a nightingale she sang, welcome home my dearest


She sang, “God bless the ship that brought you over”;

She sang, “God bless the wind that blew you over”;

She sang, “God bless the waves that tossed you over”;

Like a nightingale she sang, “Welcome home my sailor”.