American Old Time Song Lyrics: 18 The Ship That Never Returned

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 18

The Ship that Never Returned.
Copyright, 1881, by S. Brainard's Sons.
Words and Music by Henry C. Work.

On a Summer's day, when the wave was rippled
By the softest, gentlest breeze,
Did a ship set sail, with cargo laden,
For a port beyond the seas;
There were sweet farewells-there were loving signals,
While a form was yet discern'd;
Though they knew it not, 'twas a solemn parting,
For the ship-she never returned.

Chorus.
Did she never return? She never return'd-
Her fate, it is yet unlearn'd;
Tho' for years and years there were fond ones watching,
Yet the ship-she never returned.

Said a feeble lad to his anxious mother,
"I must cross the wide, wide sea;
For they say, perchance, in a foreign climate,
There is health and strength for me."
'Twas a gleam of hope in a maze of danger,
And her heart for her youngest yearn'd;
Yet she sent him forth with a smile and a blessing
On the ship that never return'd.-Chorus.

"Only one more trip, " said a gallant seaman,
As he kiss'd his weeping wife;
Only one more bag of the golden treasure,
And 'twill last us all through life.
Then I'll spend my days in my cozy cottage,
And enjoy the rest I've earn'd;
But. alas, poor man! for he sail'd commander
Of the ship that never return'd.-Chorus.