Midnight on the Stormy Deep

'Twas midnight on the stormy deep
My solitary watch I keep
And think of her I left behind
And ask if she'd be true and kind

I never shall forget the day
When I was forced to go away
In silence there my head she'd rest
And press me to her loving breast

Oh, Willie don't go back to sea
There's other girls as good as me
But none can love you true as I
Pray don't go where the bullets fly

The deep, deep sea may us divide
And I may be some other's bride
But still my thoughts will sometimes stray
To thee when thou art far away

I never have proved false to thee
The heart I gave was true as thine
But you have proved untrue to me
I can no longer call thee mine

Then fare thee well, I'd rather make
My home upon some icy lake
Where the southern sun refuse to shine
Than to trust a love so false as thine

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Lyrics from the Mountain Music for Everyone Collection, a database of nearly 400 traditional songs common in bluegrass and old-time circles. The collection is provided by the Abbott family, which also offers books and CDs aimed at providing a path to playing by ear, songbooks, and play-along CDs for learning these traditional songs. Visit www.PlayingByEar.com for more.