Artist: Smiley Bates Key: D YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mrLvUTxrPk The boats were all set to depart The crews prepared nets for the journey One last kiss from sweethearts and wives Who were left standing there by the sea One young wife with tears in her eyes Who had only a short time been wed Would with others be waiting return Of her husband the fisherman Ned She watched the small boat with its sail Just a speck on the distant horizon Then she turned a weary foot home For she knew that the night would soon come How empty the village would be How lonely the fisherman's wife For this was Ned's first trip to sea Since she'd moved to the village his wife Long days had now passed since they'd gone 'Twas time for return to the harbor The women and children were there With laughter and hearts all a-glow And soon there were cries of delight From the lips of the ones that had gathered Small pointed white sails had been seen They were welcomed and hailed as they neared But then came a cry of despair From the sight of the boats they had yearned They all knew that fifteen had left But only fourteen had returned Poor Grace so torn could not speak 'Twas Ned's boat that could not be found The others tread sad to their homes While Grace knelt there on the ground The story was told of the winds In the storm how the one boat was swept How the men were all lost in the night Then the whole village silently wept The village still tells how for years The young fisherwoman did cry And watched for a boat to come in Each day by the lonely seaside
Disclaimer: Although this transcription is based on the specified version, other versions and sources may have been consulted and errors made by the artist may have been corrected. Other errors should be reported to barb@barbdiederich.com.
Barb Diederich's Bluegrass Lyric Database / barb@barbdiederich.com