“How be'ee, me deear?” I heard her say,
But I was foached to be far away,
For the breeze was braave an’ the boat in the bay,
An’ Granny was old an’ grey.
I didn’ turn back to say “Good-bye,”
For slottery weather was in the sky,
The anchor was up an’ the punt stood by,
Yet Granny was old an’ grey!
Far I sailed, an’ didn’ I cast
Many a look at the old times past?
The lil’ grey port as I saw it last?
An’ Granny old an’ grey?
At last I came from the yowlin’ main,
Guessin’ to see the place again
Jest as it was, as nate an’ plain,
An’ Granny old an’ grey.
Why didn’ I seed the end was nigh?
Why didn’ I bide to say “Good-bye?”
It's too late now to make reply,
Granny is gone away.
But someday beyond the farthest tide,
At last I shall safely at anchor ride,
An’ I shall be hailed as I come‘ longside,
“How be'ee, me deear?”