O how can my poor heart be glad,
When absent from my sailor lad
How can I the thought forego,
He's on the seas to meet the foe:
Where e'er I wander stay or rove,
Still my heart is with my love;
My nightly dreams, and thoughts by day,
Are with him that's far away.
  On the seas and far away,
  On stormy seas and far away,
  Nightly dreams, and thoughts by day,
  Are with him that's far away.

At the starless midnight hour,
When winter rules with boundless power,
As the storms the forest tear,
And thunders rend the howling air,
Listening to the doubling roar,
Surging on the rocky shore,
All I can  - I weep and pray
For his weal that's far away.
   On the seas, etc.

Peace, thy olive wand extend,
And bid wild war his ravage end,
Man with brother man to meet,
And as a brother kindly greet:
Then may heaven with posperous gales,
Fill my sailor's welcome sails,
To my arms their charge convey,
My dear lad that's far away.
   On the seas, etc.