Lightly, O lightly we bear her along,
She sways like a flow'r in the wind of our song;
She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream.
She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream.

Gaily, O gaily, we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
Softly, O softly, we bear her along,
She hangs like a star in the dew of our song.

She springs like a beam on the brow of the tide,
She falls like a tear from the eye of a bride.
Lightly, O lightly, we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.