[Music]
The time is swiftly rolling on,
When I must faint and die,
My body to the dust return,
And there forgotten lie,
And there forgotten lie,
And there forgotten lie,
My body to the dust return,
And there forgotten lie.
Through heats and colds I've ofttimes went,
I've wandered in despair,
To call poor sinners to repent
And seek their Savior dear.
My brother preachers, boldly speak
And stand on Zion's wall;
Confirm the drunk, confirm the weak
And after sinners call.
My loving wife, my bosom friend,
The object of my love,
The time's been sweet I've spent with you,
My sweet and harmless dove.
My little children near my heart
My warm affections know.
Fer each the path will I attend.
O from them can I go?!
O God, a father to them be
And keep them from all harm,
That they may love and worship Thee
And dwell upon thy charm.
How often you have looked fer me
And often seen me come;
But now I must depart from thee
And nevermore return.
My loving wife, don't grieve fer me,
Neither lament nor mourn;
Fer I will with my Jesus be,
And dwell upon his charm.
The tune is attributed in the _Harp of Columbia_ to W. Atchley. It
belongs to what I have called (Introduction, p. 14) the 'Hallelujah'
type of melody. See 'Hallelujah' for other related spiritual tunes. A
secular song using the same melodic formula is 'Virginia Lover',
Sharp, ii., 150. The text of 'Farewell' is recorded from oral
tradition and reproduced from _White Spirituals_, 202. See 'Hicks'
Farewell' in this collection as to the authorship of the words.
No. 26
WICKED POLLY, WS 190