The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #122697   Message #2693805
Posted By: ClaireBear
04-Aug-09 - 05:47 PM
Thread Name: Lyr/Tune Req: A Sailor's Greeting
Subject: Lyr Add: 'A Sailor's Greeting'
Success at last! (Can you tell I'm taking another break from technical editing?)

I found both sheet music and lyrics on page 46 of the Minnesota Heritage Songbook, a PDF of which is kindly provided at http://mnheritagesongbook.net/MinnesotaHeritageSongbook.pdf (or just click here). Note that the song is not actually called "Sailor's Greeting," but despite all the permutations the search took, I'm pretty sure this is what you're looking for.

English lyrics in that book are as follows:

GREET THE FOLKS AT HOME

Stars above are shining bright,
Gleaming on the waves tonight,
While on the ship I sail from home;
I remember, though I roam!
High above I see them fly,
Swallows flitting through the sky,
Heading for the land I love —
The land from which I rove.

Chorus:
Greet my family at home;
Greet my father there,
And my dear old mother,
My love with golden hair.
If I had wings of a swallow,
I'd fly across the sea;
Go home, little swallow,
Greet them all for me.

Hard times forced me from my land;
All I own is in my hand;
The thoughts of those I've left behind
Come ever to my mind.
Little swallow, fly for me,
Fly back home across the sea,
Take my message back to them
I had to leave at home.