We stood upon the lonely shore
And watched the bounding bark
Which far away the loved ones bore,
On billows wild and dark;
And then there came a gloomy sound
Mournfully, mournfully stealing around —
And the sound was this,
As it rose and fell
O'er the broad expanse,—
“Farewell, farewell!”
We sought our home — once bright and fair,
No word of hope we said,
For Sorrow entered with us there,
With slow and silent tread;
And came a voice from every room
Mournfully, mournfully through the gloom;
And the voice was this,
As it sadly fell
On our aching hearts,—
“Farewell, farewell!”
The garden that at morn was gay,
And the sequestered bower,
Seemed to have wept their bloom away,
All in one little hour;
We heard a voice upon the breeze
Sigh mournfully, mournfully through the trees,
And the voice was this,
As it rose and fell
On the balmy air,—
“Farewell, farewell!”
Years, weary years have passed us o'er
Since that unhappy morn,
And in our arms we clasp once more
With rapture our first-born.
And thankful for our Father's care
Gratefully, gratefully raise the prayer,
That when life is o'er
Our anthems may swell
Where lips breathe no more —
Farewell, farewell!