Good-Bye's the Word!

HEAVE up the anchor, heave ye ho!
And swing her head about;
The blue flag flies, the breezes blow,
Let all her canvas out!
Blue eyes and black upon the quay
Are smiling tears away;
And sweethearts blush at parting kiss,
And wives and mothers pray.

The babe upon my Polly's breast will toddle down the strand,
And pipe a welcome when again our good ship sails to land;
And Tom will reach my elbow then, and Ned be shoulder high—
Avast! avast! I sail too fast—good-bye's the word, good-bye!

Heave up the anchor, heave ye ho!
And speed us on our way;
A stiff breeze, sweet with rose and thyme,
Blows fast along the bay;
The sails round out, the rattling shrouds
Are loud with noisy glee;
The staunch craft trembles as she hears
The footsteps of the sea.

Belike, my mates, 'tis just the way a lass's heart will beat
When sounds upon the shingly strand her tar's returning feet;
Or Poll will tremble when she hears my footsteps drawing nigh—
Avast! avast! I sail too fast—good-bye's the word, good-bye!

Heave up the anchor, heave ye ho!
God bless the dear brown hands
That wave "good-bye" when Jack sets sail
To steer for other strands;
And tho' our ship her anchor heaves
When she would sail afar,
My eyes! she don't resemble there
The ways of true Jack tar.

For when Jack casts life's anchor down—his heart, be-like, you know—
He never hauls it up again, whatever squalls may blow;
Mine's grappled safe in Polly's breast until the day I die—
Avast! avast! the wind blows fast—good-bye's the word, good-bye!