On the Seas and Far Away

Tune--"_O'er the hills," &c._

["The last evening," 29th of August, 1794, "as I was straying out,"
says Burns, "and thinking of 'O'er the hills and far away,' I spun the
following stanzas for it. I was pleased with several lines at first,
but I own now that it appears rather a flimsy business. I give you
leave to abuse this song, but do it in the spirit of Christian
meekness."]

I.
 How can my poor heart be glad,
 When absent from my sailor lad?
 How can I the thought forego,
 He's on the seas to meet the foe?
 Let me wander, let me rove,
 Still my heart is with my love:
 Nightly dreams, and thoughts by day,
 Are with him that's far away.
 On the seas and far away,
 On stormy seas and far away;
 Nightly dreams, and thoughts by day,
 Are ay with him that's far away.
II.
 When in summer's noon I faint,
 As weary flocks around me pant,
 Haply in this scorching sun
 My sailor's thund'ring at his gun:
 Bullets, spare my only joy!
 Bullets, spare my darling boy!
 Fate, do with me what you may--
 Spare but him that's far away!
III.
 At the starless midnight hour,
 When winter rules with boundless power:
 As the storms the forests tear,
 And thunders rend the howling air,
 Listening to the doubling roar,
 Surging on the rocky shore,
 All I can--I weep and pray,
 For his weal that's far away.
IV.
 Peace, thy olive wand extend,
 And bid wild war his ravage end,
 Man with brother man to meet,
 And as a brother kindly greet:
 Then may heaven with prosp'rous gales,
 Fill my sailor's welcome sails,
 To my arms their charge convey--
 My dear lad that's far away.
 On the seas and far away
 On stormy seas and far away;
 Nightly dreams, and thoughts by day,
 Are ay with him that's far away.

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