The same song appears with musical notation for one voice and piano, in Naval Songs: A Collection of Original, Selected, and Traditional Sea Songs (New York: Wm. A. Pond, 1883), page 14.

I have boldfaced the words that are different from the above version.


ABSENT FRIENDS AND YOU, MARY.
[Words and music by] Commodore Spicer, U. S. Navy.

1. I’ve wandered many a league, Mary,
Since last with you I met,
And many more about the world,
’Tis willed I wander yet;
But though I’m borne from clime to clime,
Where all seems strange and new,
Remembrance brings each happier time,
With absent friends and you, Mary,
With absent friends and you.

2. Tho’ brief the time that haply made
Acquainted you and I,
Within my breast are gently laid
Thoughts which will never die;
They mingle with the brightest dream,
That e’er my mem’ry knew,
And fancy brings again the scene
Of absent friends and you, Mary,
Of absent friends and you.

3. Tho’ change of scene in foreign land
Seems pleasant for a while,
The pressure of the stranger’s hand,
And welcome may beguile;
Yet give me back my kindred home,
With all that’s prized and true,
And I no more would wish to roam
From absent friends and you, Mary,
From absent friends and you.

4. Another year has yet its way
Of cheerlessness to flee,
Ere homeward bound my barque shall stray
In gladness o’er the sea;
Yet while ’neath stranger skies I cruise,
And joys be e’er so few,
A solace still ’twill be to muse
On absent friends and you, Mary,
On absent friends and you.

5. And now, my gentle friend, good-bye,
Calm blessings light your way,
Life’s moments pass without a sigh,
Hope never knew* decay;
And sometimes, while in joyousness,
The past flits by your view,
Remember one who often thinks
Of absent friends and you, Mary,
Of absent friends and you.

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* I think “know” fits better; then the whole stanza (except a dependent clause) is in the subjunctive: “[May] calm blessings light … [May] life’s moments pass … [May] hope never know … [May you] remember….”