The Last Farewell
A Sailor's Heartfelt Farewell to Beloved England
Lyrics
There's a ship lies rigged and ready in the harbor
Describing a ship prepared for departure in the harbor.
Tomorrow for old England she sails
The ship is set to sail for England the next day.
Far away from your land of endless sunshine
Contrasting the speaker's destination (England) with a land of constant sunshine.
To my land full of rainy skies and gales
Expressing the speaker's homeland with rainy skies and gales.
And I shall be aboard that ship tomorrow
The speaker will be on the departing ship.
Though my heart is full of tears at this farewell
Despite tears, the speaker acknowledges the necessity of this farewell.
For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly
Expressing love and beauty, declaring a deep affection for the land being left behind.
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
Love for the homeland surpasses what words can convey.
For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly
Reiterating the profound love for the land.
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
Reemphasizing the depth of love beyond verbal expression.
I've heard there's a wicked war a-blazing
Awareness of a severe war underway.
And the taste of war I know so very well
The speaker has experienced the harsh realities of war.
Even now I see the foreign flag a-raising
Observing a foreign flag being raised, indicating an imminent battle.
Their guns on fire as we sail into hell
Heading into a dangerous situation with guns firing.
I have no fear of death, it brings no sorrow
Fearless about death but anticipating a sorrowful farewell.
But how bitter will be this last farewell
For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly
Reiterating the beauty and love for the homeland.
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
Underscoring the depth of love beyond verbal expression.
For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly
Expressing love for the land that goes beyond words.
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
Reemphasizing the intensity of love beyond spoken language.
Though death and darkness gather all about me
Despite facing death and darkness, the speaker hopes for survival.
My ship be torn apart upon the seas
Imagining the ship being damaged but hopeful for a return.
I shall smell again the fragrance of these islands
Recalling the pleasant memories of the islands and the journey to England.
And the heaving waves that brought me once to thee
Remembering the waves that led the speaker to the homeland.
And should I return home safe again to England
If safely returning to England, anticipating the mist in the dales.
I shall watch the English mist roll through the dale
For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly
Reiterating love and beauty, expressing a deep affection for the homeland.
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
Love for the homeland surpasses what words can convey.
For you are beautiful, I have loved you dearly
Reemphasizing the profound love for the land.
More dearly than the spoken word can tell
Concluding with the depth of love beyond verbal expression.
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