Farewell to Nova Scotia - Tommy Makem

The sun was setting in the west

The birds were singing on ev’ry tree

All nature seemed inclined for the rest

But still there was no rest for me

Farewell to Nova Scotia, the sea-bound coast

Let your mountains dark and dreary be

And when I am far away on the briny oceans tossed

Will you ever heave a sigh and a wish for me?

I grieve to leave my native land

I grieve to leave my comrades all

(And) my aged parents whom I always held so dear

And the bonnie, bonnie lass (that) I do adore

The drums are beating the wars do alarm

The captain calls, we must obey

So farewell, farewell to Nova Scotia’s charms

For it’s early in the morning I am far, far away

I have three brothers and they (are) at rest

Their arms are folded upon their breast

But a poor simple sailor just like me

Must be tossed and driven on the dark blue sea