"When on the wildest shore I'm thrown, And far from human eye, I think of him who made the stone, And shell, and sea, and sky.
"For he 's my friend, and I am his, Though cold and rough the blast: My safest guide I know he is, Where'er my lot is cast."
When Tom passed on, the children said, "These treasures from afar He brought us! Blessings on his head! For he 's a good Tom Tar!"
Landmen, on your downy pillows, While your eyes are sealed in sleep, Seamen, tossed 'mid foam and billows, Roam, for you, a boisterous deep. When the glorious light of day Is on your homes so peaceful dawning, Along our pathless, troubled way The surge swells high, the flood is yawning.
When earth's flowers to you are blooming, Or your hearths are bright and warm; We behold the wild waves booming, Mount the shrouds, and brave the storm. Singing birds your hearing greet-- Your hearts the kindred tone rejoices; While winds, that on our canvass beat, And roaring ocean join their voices.
Then, to meet the High and Holy, When ye to his throne repair, O before him, meek and lowly, Bow for us, as suppliants there! When his blessed day appears, The dearest, best of all the seven, Your souls the gospel herald cheers; But none tells us of rest and heaven.
Zion, bid thy sons and daughters Often, on the bended knee, Cry to Him, who rules the waters, For the wanderers o'er sea! Now, to Thee, the seaman's Friend, Our guide--our light--our ark abiding, Our Saviour, we our all commend, While time's rude waves in frailty riding.
While o'er the bright bay, With her streamers at play, Our bark in her beauty is gliding, As brothers, are we, The glad sons of the sea, Our own darling element riding.
Good pilot, adieu; For the skies are all blue; And yonder, blue billows are bounding. We speed from the port, To be off by the fort, While her gun to the sunrise is sounding.
We leave all behind, That a warm heart can bind, In home, love, and friendship endearing; While hope flies before, For a far, foreign shore, As the hand at the rudder is steering.
And well do we know The proud waters below, That hence are by us to be ridden; 'Mid the corals and caves There are mariners' graves, Dark wrecks, and lost treasures deep hidden.