Farewell to Stromness
This song was collected by the Big Orkney Song Project.

FAREWELL TO STROMNESS

Come, come my kind comrades, once more let us join
Once more your fine voices, in chorus with mine
Let us drink and be merry, from all sorrow refrain,
For we ever or never, may we all meet again.

The time is advancing when I must away,
I bid you a farewell for many long days
Likewise pretty fair maids of every degree
Long in vain will I wish for your kind company.

CHORUS
So farewell to Stromness, since I must away
I leave my best wishes to one who there stays
May fortune protect her and with her remain
May she never want a friend til I see her again

So adieu to all pleasure, adieu for a while
When the winter is over, sweet summer will smile
Wherever I do wander, by the land or by sea
I will always remember your kind company

The mountains and valleys of Orkney farewell
If ever I return again, there's no one can tell
But you pretty fair maids who happy live here
While away on the ocean my course I must steer.

FINAL CHORUS
So farewell to Stromness, since I must away
I bid you a farewell for many long days
May fortune protect her that's loyal and true
Here's a health, peace and plenty, farewell and adieu.

Here's the song, as recorded by Éamonn Coyne and Kris Drever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-aH2cxOeR4

The melody is very familiar, but I can't identify it. It's certainly not the piece with the same name that was composed by Peter Maxwell Davies.

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