Seven English Popular Songs/Canadian Boat Song

For other versions of this work, see A Canadian Boat Song.

CANADIAN BOAT SONG.

Faintly as tolls the evening chime,
Our voices keep tune, and our oars beat time;
Soon as the woods on shore look dim,
We'll cheerfully sing our parting hymn.
Row, brothers, row; the stream runs fast,
The Rapid's are near, and the daylight's past.

Why should we yet our sail unfurl?
There is not a breath the blue wave to curl;
But when the wind blows off the shore,
Oh! sweetly we'll rest upon our oar.
Blow, breezes, blow; the stream runs fast,
The Rapid's are near, and the daylight's past.