American Old Time Song Lyrics: 28 A Sailors Last Good Bye

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 28

A SAILOR'S LAST GOOD-BYE.
Copyright, 1890, by Will Rossiter.
Words by Wm. D. Hall. Music by Frederick Silva.

An out-bound bark was leaving, and upon its deck there stood
A sailor, who was going far away;
Adieu he bade a lassie, knowing not It was for good,
His duty called, and it he must obey.
The tints of daylight vanished soon, and all grew dark And dim.
No stars made bright the gloomy-looking sky.
She wept in silent solitude, her thoughts were all of him,
Her laddie who had spoke his last good-bye.

Chorus.
She was his lassie, he was her joy,
She was his idol, he was her boy;
His vessel ne'er turned homeward, her prayers knew no reply,
Save echoes sweet which would repeat that sailor's last good-bye.

The hungry sea was roaring, while each billow talked of death,
That ocean's dirge was all that she could bear:
Then watching clouds convolve above, with fright she held her breath.
And prayed aloud, "Oh, spare my bonnie dear."
Then, turning, homeward she did go, distracted with her grief.
To suffer languishment, no tongue can tell;
And there she pined, no tidings came to cheer or lend relief
From her laddie who had spoke his last farewell.-Chorus.

Each day upon the strand she walked, and looked far out to sea.
And watched with eager eye each passing sail;
But years rolled on. no word arrived, where could his vessel be,
Why did no message come and tell the tale?
Unjust and ill she classed the charm that held her lad divine,
I And caused her once gay heart to sob and sigh.
To see his features once again, the world she would resign,
For then no more they'd part, nor say good-bye.-Chorus.

Each night fond thoughts made bright her dreams, as visions came to view,
Of many pleasures they together spent;
She little knew at rest he was beneath the ocean blue;
In hope she lived, and tried to be content;
She thought of lives that siren's song had often ticed And craved,
And left fond ones ashore to mourn and to cry;
But now she knows the word came thro' a seaman who was saved;
He told her of that sailor's last good-bye.-Chorus.