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'Neath Pacific skies I'm dreaming of my homeland,
I love to breathe her healthful airs again;
I sigh though nature's here in all her splendour,
And the majesty and beauty love to reign.
The fine tree's luscious load is spreading o'er me,
The sweet syringa petals kiss my hand;
All things are fair and bright in California,
Though I long for thee, my country Newfoundland.
The sunset floods the Golden Gate with glory,
The scent of orange groves is on the breeze;
Though my heart within me cries for a home 'neath Northern skies,
While I am far away in other seas.
The friends I loved and youthful memories call me,
A call my yearning soul cannot withstand;
Then take me back, O, take me back from California,
To the hills, the dear old hills of Newfoundland.
The far off mountains rise in misty grandeur,
Their crests above the sunlit clouds and soon
Dark night and stars' new witchery shall end them,
Now I am dreaming of a distant June.
When on a cliff above the blue Atlantic,
With joyous heart I promised his to be;
Oh, there's no spot in gorgeous California,
As dear as that wide rugged scene to me.
The sunset floods the Golden Gate with glory,
The scent of orange groves is on the breeze;
Though my heart within me cries for a home 'neath Northern skies,
While I am far away in other seas.
The friends I loved and youthful memories call me,
A call my yearning soul cannot withstand;
Then take me back, O, take me back from California,
To the hills, the dear old hills of Newfoundland.
Collected in 1950 from Jack Swain (b.1892) of Calvert, NL, and published in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).
MacEdward Leach also collected a similar variant in 1951 from F. Sutton of Trepassey, NL, which was published as Youthful Memories in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).
