He stept so lightly to the land,
All in his manly pride:
He kissed her cheek, he clasped her hand;
Yet still she glanced aside.
“Too gay he seems,” she darkly dreams,
“Too gallant and too gay,
To think of me — poor simple me —
When he is far away!”
“I bring my Love this goodly pearl
Across the seas,” he said:
“A gem to deck the dearest girl
That ever sailor wed!”
She holds it tight: her eyes are bright:
Her throbbing heart would say
“He thought of me — he thought of me —
When he was far away!”
The ship has sailed into the West:
Her ocean-bird is flown:
A dull dead pain is in her breast,
And she is weak and lone:
But there's a smile upon her face,
A smile that seems to say
“He'll think of me — he'll think of me —
When he is far away!
“Though waters wide between us glide,
Our lives are warm and near:
No distance parts two faithful hearts —
Two hearts that love so dear:
And I will trust my sailor-lad,
For ever and a day,
To think of me — to think of me —
When he is far away!”