Father's Ship

One evening last Summer

As I lay down to sleep

I spied a lad about 6 years old

At his mother’s knee did weep

Saying why don’t father’s ship come in

And why don’t he come home

While other ships are sailing in

Spreading the ocean foam

He said six months he would be gone

Leaving you and I alone

And through the long dark winter nights

Six months have passed? Come? and gone

So why don’t father’s ship come in

Oh Mother please tell me why

And why don’t father’s ship come in

What makes you weep and cry

My boy your father’s long voyage is o’er

You’ll never seem him no more

For he and his tall gallant ship

Will never reach the shore

For the ship and all her cargo

Went down in the ocean deep

And the waves are rolling mountains high

Oe’r the graves where they do sleep

If this be so dear mother he cried

From the grave they cannot come

And you and I are left alone

For to lament and mourn

How well can I remember

When he nursed me on his knee

And brought to me some buds and flowers

From off the Indian tree

My boy you’re the pride of all my heart

As she pressed him to her breast

And closed her eyes to the yonder skies

Where the weary ones find rest