The boat went out with the ebb to sea,
That June-tide in the morning,
My bonny boys waved their hands to me,
That June-tide in the morning.
I stood and watched them from the door:
My bonny brave boys came back no more,
That June-tide in the morning.
The sun shone bright, and the wind was low,
That June-tide in the morning.
And I kissed them ere I bade them go,
That June-tide in the morning.
The leaves were young upon the vine,
When my boys' warm lips were press'd to mine
That June-tide in the morning.
I watched the boat as it left the bay,
That June-tide in the morning.
And ever until my latest day,
That June-tide in the morning
Comes back to me when the skies are clear,
And the roses bloom,--yet I felt no fear,
That June-tide in the morning.
A mist came up, and it hid the sea,
That June-tide in the morning,
Ah! little I thought what awaited me,
That June-tide in the morning.
How those lips had been press'd to mine,
Here on earth, for the end of all time,
That June-tide in the morning.
The rising tide brought them back no more,
That June-tide in the morning.
Ere noon the boat drifted safe ashore,
That June-tide in the morning.
The mist had hidden the Dead Man's Rock,
And never a boat could withstand its shock,
That June-tide in the morning.
They found their grave in the great North Sea,
That June-tide in the morning.
My boys, who came never home to me,
That June-tide in the morning.
Oh! the sky was bright, and the wind was low,
Thank God I kissed them ere they did go,
That June-tide in the morning.
