See Me Home Safely

1. He was born within sight of the Split Rock light
With the keening of gulls in his ear;
His father hauled freight down the length of the lake
From March through November each year.
His mother she stayed at home, waiting alone,
Every tempest would cause her to weep.
They would watch for his sail til the daylight failed
Then his mother would rock him to sleep. She sang:

Refrain: Champlain come send me a strong wind and true,
Hold fast my anchor to keep me from shore,
Rock me to sleep with a ripple or two,
And see me home safely once more.

2. They met on the docks by the Whitehall locks,
When his father hired hers for his crew.
He asked for her hand as they walked in the sand
On the banks of the river Richelieu.
She said: "I'll be your wife you'll share your whole life,
And not leave me stranded aground."
So as captain and mate they hauled passengers and freight
From the locks to Crown Point and beyond, singing:

Refrain

3. Last September I came to their house once again
Where retired they lived by the bay
She was laid up in bed with a flu in her head
And a storm had been brewing all day.
He spoke softly in my ear, lest she should hear,
"I fear it's pneumonia or worse."
And she answered, "No tears, we've had fifty good years,"
Won't you sing me once more that old verse?"

Refrain

4. "The time has now come to take my love home,
So come help me take her aboard."
In spite of the gale he made ready to sail,
While round us the nor'easter roared.
I begged him to let me go, he shook his head no,
"Go on up to the house and keep warm."
And my cheeks were stained with much more than the rain
As he sailed away into the storm. He sang:

Refrain

2.	They met on the docks by the Whitehall locks, When his father hired hers for his crew. He asked for her hand as they walked in the sand On the banks of the river Richelieu. She said: "I'll be your wife you'll share your whole life, And not leave me stranded aground." So as captain and mate they hauled passengers and freight From the locks to Crown Point and beyond, singing: Refrain
3.	Last September I came to their house once again Where retired they lived by the bay She was laid up in bed with a flu in her head And a storm had been brewing all day. He spoke softly in my ear, lest she should hear, "I fear it's pneumonia or worse." And she answered, "No tears, we've had fifty good years," Won't you sing me once more that old verse?" Refrain
4.	"The time has now come to take my love home, So come help me take her aboard." In spite of the gale he made ready to sail, While round us the nor'easter roared. I begged him to let me go, he shook his head no, "Go on up to the house and keep warm." And my cheeks were stained with much more than the rain As he sailed away into the storm. He sang: Refrain