American Old Time Song Lyrics: 29 Adeline

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 29

ADELINE.
Copyright, 1890, by John F. Ellis & Co.
Words and Music by Wm. D. Hall.

On the shore stood a maiden with tears in her eyes,
Who kissed her hand adieu
And bade farewell to a restless craft
That held her laddie true;
Each sail filled for duty to take from her gaze
The one she loved so dear,
And each strain of that ocean's dirge
Distracted her with fear.
"Oh, will he e'er return to me?"
She murmured midst her sighs,
And as she saw the billows toss,
Sad tears dimmed her eyes;
An object was fast going 'way from her sight,
The timbers that held her Jack;
She cried out aloud, "I'll await thy return,"
And the echoes answered back.

Refrain.
"Good-bye, my darling, from you I must part, fond one do not weep;
May the scenes of pleasures past comfort thee in thy sleep;
Pray for your laddie by night And day, and keep his mem'ry green;
"Happy he thy sweet repose, " my darling Adeline.

A year soon elapsed, but no tidings arrived-
Where could his vessel be?
Had waves of anger swallowed it
Whilst on the raging sea?
She prayed to the heavens to guard from all harm
And send him back again.
But on she waited many years,
Her prayers had been in vain.
A fisherman one morning on
The shore a bottle found,
Within it was a note which told
How he had been drowned;
Her last hope soon vanished, she then knew it all;
Alas! her poor bonny was dead.
She glanced o'er the message that came from the wreck,
And through her tears she read:-Refrain.