Page:A New Zealand verse (1906).pdf/40
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4
The Night-watch Song.
iii.
The Night-watch Song of the “Charlotte Jane.”
’Tis the first watch of the night, brothers,
And the strong wind rides the deep;
And the cold stars shining bright, brothers,
Their mystic courses keep.
Whilst our ship her path is cleaving
The flashing waters through,
Here's a health to the land we are leaving,
And the land we are going to!
And the strong wind rides the deep;
And the cold stars shining bright, brothers,
Their mystic courses keep.
Whilst our ship her path is cleaving
The flashing waters through,
Here's a health to the land we are leaving,
And the land we are going to!
First sadly bow the head, brothers,
In silence o’er the wine,
To the memory of the dead, brothers,
The fathers of our line.
Though their tombs may not receive us,
Far o’er the ocean blue,
Their spirits ne’er shall leave us,
In the land we are going to.
In silence o’er the wine,
To the memory of the dead, brothers,
The fathers of our line.
Though their tombs may not receive us,
Far o’er the ocean blue,
Their spirits ne’er shall leave us,
In the land we are going to.
Whilst yet sad memories move us,
A second cup we’ll drain
To the manly hearts that love us
In our old homes o’er the main.
Fond arms that used to caress us,
Sweet smiles from eyes of blue,
Lips which no more may bless us,
In the land we are going to.
A second cup we’ll drain
To the manly hearts that love us
In our old homes o’er the main.
Fond arms that used to caress us,
Sweet smiles from eyes of blue,
Lips which no more may bless us,
In the land we are going to.
But away with sorrow now, brothers,
Fill the wine-cup to the brim!
Here’s to all who’ll swear the vow, brothers,
Of this our midnight hymn:
Fill the wine-cup to the brim!
Here’s to all who’ll swear the vow, brothers,
Of this our midnight hymn: