Bright shone the light from the heavens on high
Not a cloud masked the light of the brilliant blue sky
There stood on the beach of a far distant shore
An exile from Erin that land we adore

He vacantly gazed far o'er the blue sea
And he longed for that land that he wants to see free
And as he's there standing the time's drawing nigh
When the good ship will bring him back home for to die

Refrain:
Homewards once more, homewards once more
And the good ship is speeding to Erin's green shore
An exile returning no longer to roam
He will end his career in his own native home

For freedom he fought and for Ireland he bled
And for this he was sentenced to hang until dead
But the sentence was not carried out if you please
And instead he was banished for years o'er the seas

For twenty one years in the prime of his life
He was parted from kindred from home and from wife
But now he is standing on a far distant shore
Awaiting the steamer bound homewards once more

Refrain

But the scene has now changed as the ship ploughs the sea
And the exile on board he breathes the air pure and free
And as he does sight the dear land of his love
He murmurs a prayer to his maker above


With deepest emotion his heart wildly thrills
As once more he's beholding his dear native hills
And as he descends from the ship to the shore
Thank God he exclaims, I'm in Ireland once more

Refrain


I got this from Sarah Anne O'Neill, Geordie Hanna's sister. Not widely sung, but i give it an airing every once in a while.