The Bells of Lynn.
When the eve is growing gray, and the tide is rolling in,1
I sit and look across the bay to the bonny town of Lynn ;2
And the fisherfolks are near,3
But I wis they never hear4
The songs the far bells make for me, the bonny bells of Lynn.5
The folks are chatting gay, and I hear their merry din,6
But I look and look across the bay to the bonny town of Lynn ;7
He told me to wait here8
Upon the old brown pier,9
To wait and watch him coming when the tide was rolling in.10
Oh, I see him pulling strong, pulling o’er the bay to me,11
And I hear his jovial song, and his merry face I see ;12
And now ! he’s at the pier,13
My bonny love and dear !14
And he’s coming up the sea-washed steps with hands out-
stretched to me.15
stretched to me.15
O my love, your cheek is cold, and, your hands are stark
and
thin !16
thin !16
O hear you not the bells of old, the bonny bells of Lynn ?17
O have you nought to say18
Upon our wedding day ?19
Love, hear you not the wedding bells across the bay of Lynn ?20
O my lover, speak to me ! and hold me fast, mine own !21
For I fear this rising sea, and these winds and waves that moan !22
*****
But never a word he said !23
He is dead, my love is dead !24
Ah me ! ah me ! I did but dream : and I am all alone,25
Alone, and old, and gray : and the tide is rolling in ;26
But my heart’s away, away, away, in the old graveyard at Lynn !27