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I remember that morning when the Valiant sailed,
From the banks of the river Humber;
The roll call was taken as we entered the stream,
And those first grey waves rolled under.
I said farewell to my Yorkshire home,
And the mother of an old family;
But she seemed to know it was time to grow,
New Branches on the tree.
When the Valiant came to the headland light,
And I looked at the ocean before us;
I prayed for a seabird to carry me back,
And that night I cursed Columbus.
But an easterly breeze soon filled the sails,
And the dolphins raced so free;
They seemed to know it was time to grow,
New branches on the tree.
New branches on the tree,
New branches on the tree;
They seemed to know it was time to grow,
New branches on the tree.
This ocean of life can be stormy and dark,
If you try to cross it alone;
Those wintry gales can drive you astray,
And chill you to the bone.
But I found a companion with a golden heart,
Her name was Arabella;
She seemed to know it was time to grow,
New branches on the tree.
On the 61st day we gathered on deck,
Captain Ezard raised up his hand;
There in the fog like daggers of stone,
Lay the capes of Newfoundland.
But we steered away in search of the Gulf,
And the island of our dreams;
For we seemed to know it was time to grow,
New branches on the tree.
New branches on the tree,
New branches on the tree;
They seemed to know it was time to grow,
New branches on the tree.
Now I sit here an old man, a servant of God,
In this settlement of Tryon;
The family tree is rooted and grown,
And my immigrant work is done.
I wait for that day not far away,
When Heaven's sweet trumpet will call;
And I make sail again for a promised land,
Leaving one kingdom for another.
New branches on the tree,
New branches on the tree;
They seemed to know it was time to grow,
New branches on the tree.
New branches on the tree,
New branches on the tree;
They seemed to know it was time to grow,
New branches on the tree.
