On Board the Steamer
[Air: Midnight Hour]

1
On board the steamer, homeward bound,
With joyful hearts and noiseful glee;
Good-by! Good-by! Shake hands all round
Then travel o'er the sea.

CHORUS
But ne'er forget those pleasant times,
The mountains high and grizzly bear,
The good old camp up in the mines,
The mountains fresh and fair.

2
'Tis twelve at night, the moon shines bright,
The ship glides gently o'er the waves;
The soul is filled with pure delight,
And danger boldly braves.

CHORUS.- But ne'er forget, &c.

3
'Tis mirth and jollity aboard-
The mind runs wild as home draws nigh-
No cheerless look, no angry word
As homeward bound you fly.

CHORUS.- But ne'er forget, &c.

4
Good-by! Good-by! to all again-
The long and tedious voyage is o'er;
Good-by! Good-by! the raging main,
Long may thy billows roar.

CHORUS.- But ne'er forget, &c.

Put's Golden Songster, p. 29
Tune and lyrics in Dwyer & Lingenfelter, The Songs of the Gold Rush, p. 181.
Music: "'Tis Midnight Hour," Good Old Songs

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Click to play (joeweb)

[Tune notes by Artful Codger]
"'Tis Midnight Hour" is a ballad written ca. 1840 by "an amateur".
Sheet music [PDF; 1840] in the Lester S. Levy Collection.

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