Farewell, dear lass, it grieves me much
That thou must leave us here alone,
Thou gav’st our summer months a touch
Of happiness, as seldom known,
Thou gavest such a sunny cheer,
That every day seemed like a play,
And now, when autumn’s winds blow drear,
Thou needs must go so far away!
The leaves lie yellow on the lawn,
The blackbirds gather into flocks,
The thrush and lark have long since gone,
The crows sit cawing on the rocks,
The heavy clouds soar wild and black
Across the meadows, sear with frost,
I stand alone beneath their wrack,
And feel that summer’s joy is lost.
But I shall ne’er forget thy smile,
And ever in my heart shall ring
The laughter which did e’er beguile
Each brooding care to take its wing,
Thy winsomeness which woke my soul
From lethargy’s dun dreariness
Shall leave a glamour over all,
And even winter’s darkness bless.
So fare thee well, my brown-eyed lass,
May heaven keep thee pure and sweet!
May ne’er a shadow o’er thee pass
Of evil’s harm or dark deceit!
And mayst thou from the Southern clime
Return when April’s breezes blow,
When minstrel hosts perceive ’tis time
To lift their wings and northward go.