On the Seas and Far Away: On the Seas and Far Away

On the Seas and Far Away

Tune--"_O'er the hills," &c._

["The last evening," 29th of August, 1794, "as I was straying out,"
says Burns, "and thinking of 'O'er the hills and far away,' I spun the
following stanzas for it. I was pleased with several lines at first,
but I own now that it appears rather a flimsy business. I give you
leave to abuse this song, but do it in the spirit of Christian
meekness."]

I.
    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?
    Let me wander, let me rove,
    Still my heart is with my love:
    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 ay with him that's far away.
II.
    When in summer's noon I faint,
    As weary flocks around me pant,
    Haply in this scorching sun
    My sailor's thund'ring at his gun:
    Bullets, spare my only joy!
    Bullets, spare my darling boy!
    Fate, do with me what you may--
    Spare but him that's far away!
III.
    At the starless midnight hour,
    When winter rules with boundless power:
    As the storms the forests 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.
IV.
    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 prosp'rous gales,
    Fill my sailor's welcome sails,
    To my arms their charge convey--
    My dear lad that's far away.
        On the seas and far away
        On stormy seas and far away;
        Nightly dreams, and thoughts by day,
        Are ay with him that's far away.

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