Maiden's love goes marching away,
Maiden's heart is nigh breaking;
Maiden weeps by night and by day,
Both sleeling and waking!
But hark on high the voice of the dove,
Is softly and tenderly singing,
"Ah weep no more, I come from thy love,
A fond message bringing!"
Sing on thy heart, sweet messenger dove,
Sing on in the sun and the rain.
Sing and say the heart that I love
Will come back to me again.

Far away, across the wide sea,
He is fighting with danger;
Face to face with hardship is he,
To pleasure a stranger!
But sings the dove in tenderest strain
While day from the dim sky is fleeting,
"He dreams always of one over the main,
And gladness of meeting!"
Sing  on to my heart, sweet messenger dove,
Sing on in the sun and the rain.
Sing and say the heart that I love
Will come back to me again!

Maiden sighs, "Alas, in a while,
One more fair, now we sever,
My love's heart from me will beguile
For ever and ever!"
And then the dove in radiant tone
Sang folding its wings and replying
"His heart like thine is weary and lone.
For thee ever sighing!"
Sing  on to my heart, sweet messenger dove,
Sing on in the sun and the rain.
Sing and say the heart that I love
Will come back to me again!