As The Ship Sailed Away From Ireland

One day on the dock I stood watching the ships,
I saw one in particular there;
I noticed that she was just going to sail,
Oh, and I had few minutes to spare.

Tears in each eye wished each other good-bye,
As the ship sailed away o'er the tide;
I'll mention to you all I seen in that day,
As the vessel was just goin' to sail on the tide.

Friends are sayin' goodbye, goodbye,
Tears were seen on every eye;
Fond mothers cried, true lovers sighed,
As the ship sailed away from old Ireland.

I saw a young fellow, an Irishman, too,
As a young girl stood close by his side,
Sayin', Nora my darling, when I go out west,
Will you come and be Dennis' bride?

I love the old place and the dear ones at home,
Just t'ink on the sorrow and care;
If you remain here, Nora my dear,
Oh, I never could call you my wife.

When we will go to that beautiful land,
Out West, oh, where Dennis won't fail;
Wit' a fond kiss they parted that night p'raps for life,
As the vessel was just going to sail.

Friends are sayin' goodbye, goodbye,
Tears were seen on every eye;
Fond mothers cried, true lovers sighed,
As the ship sailed away from old Ireland.

Just as the last line that held the big ship,
Was loosed a gale of cry;
A man overboard you also could see,
Oh, for he made a foam in the tide.

As quick as the lightning dashed one gallant youth,
And into the water right there;
He caught the big fellow and there held him fast,
Till a boat came to rescue the pair.

God bless you dear fellow he frequently said,
For I think there's no one can tell;
How this bit of a youngster saved this big fellow's life,
As the vessel was just going to sail.

Friends are sayin' goodbye, goodbye,
Tears were seen on every eye;
Fond mothers cried, true lovers sighed,
As the ship sailed away from old Ireland.

The next sight was touching, an old couple there,
Was bidding their youngster farewell;
He had done something wrong and was charged for a fee,
And he dreaded the cold prison cell.

His parents were sending him far o'er the foam,
Just as they were saying good-bye,
A soldier, a sergeant deprived of him there,
Which brought tears to the old couple's eyes.

The youngster was charged wit' desertion, poor lad,
He trembled and turned deat'ly pale;
Which he caused the old couple to die on the quay,
As the vessel was just going to sail.

Friends are sayin' goodbye, goodbye,
Tears were seen on every eye;
Fond mothers cried, true lovers sighed,
As the ship sailed away from old Ireland.

####.... Author unknown ....####

Variant of a ballad collected in 1951 from Morris Houlihan (b.1885) of Flatrock, NL, and published in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).