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GEST Songs Of Newfoundland And Labrador
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Gracefully floated the signal flag and warned us we should sail,
And many hearts welcomed with joy the first breath of the Western gale;
Friends were there, both young and old, in that circle closed around,
To say farewell that last time on earth, on the deck of the outward bound.
We fast sped away from the Western shores before a spanking gale,
And kept our way for an eastern course, under low and heavy sail;
One young in years stood on the deck and looked back with a bitter smile:
Farewell, farewell, the last time on earth, thou frost and snow-clad isle.
Dim and distant you look in my view, thou gloomy and rock bound shore,
Land of my childhood's home, adieu, on earth we will meet no more;
Yet on fancy's wing shall my heart come back, far across the ocean's foam,
To the brightsome scenes of boyhood days in my childhood's happy home.
At evening's close, when my toll is o'er, then my mother may kneel and pray
To God to protect her only son in that land so far away;
Though her prayers be good, she'll never behold her boy that's over the wave,
Till her sun of life has forever set, and she sleeps in her silent grave.