An old family story about a Revolutionary War-era ship's captain lost at sea on the East India route, and his daughters and house caretaker waiting a seeming eternity for the news.
lyrics
out on th' waves, past th' sun
our brave man, he travl'd
whar' ye gae 'cross the sea, 'round th' cape
t'ward th' end of yer run
on th' quay we a-gathr'd
an' prayed tha' ye'd safely come
aw'y aw'y, aw'y at sea
an' we pray tha' ye come home agin
an' each night, we light
a candle in th' window
tha' Joe, ye may find yer way
all th' days, an th' nights
an' fortnights a-waitin'
'til one grey morn' we b'came
much aggriev'd the word come
on tha' nae bonnie mornin'
tha' ye'd nae be com'n t'port agin
aw'y aw'y, an' back ye come nae more
ne'er t'see yer visage agin
but each night, we still light
a candle in th' window
tha' Joe,we may see ye agin
an' aye!, th' wind blows
ye' timbers tremble,
an' aye!, th'waves toss, them break
wi' a sound mor' mournful
than yer daughters a-cryin'
Joe Solomon's gon' a'sea
aw'y aw'y, out on th' deadly sea
we lost us a good ship agin
so each night we light
a candle in the window
tha' Joe may come t'port someday
'neath the waves, 'neath the waves
wher' th' storm, na' silent
won' trouble ye nae mor', na' ye rest
frae th' bottom his soul
a-well ha' travel'd
to the hea'en atop th' waves
aw'y aw'y, aw'y at sea
an' ye'll ne'er be com'n home agin
but each night , we light
a candle in th' window
tha' Joe, ye may find yer way
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