The Last Farewell

There’s a ship lies rigged and ready in the harbour,
tomorrow for old England she sails,
far away from your land and endless sunshine
to my land full of rainy skies and gales,
and I shall be on board that ship tomorrow
though my heart is full of tears at this farewell.

(Refr)
For you are beautiful,
and I have loved you dearly,
more dearly than the spoken word can tell.

I heard there’s a wicked war ablazing
and the taste of war I know so very well.
Even now I see the foreign flag araising.
Their guns on firing as we sailed into hell.
I have no fear of death it brings no sorrow.
But how bitter will be this last farewell.

(Refr)

Though death and darkness gather all about me
and my ship be torn apart upon the sea.
I shall smell again the fragrance of this island
in the heaving waves that brought me once to thee,
and should I return safe home again to England,
I shall watch the English mist roll through the dell.

(Refr)