His boat comes on the sunny tide

His boat comes on the sunny tide,

And brightly gleams the flashing oar;

The boatmen carol by his side,

And blithely near the welcome shore,

How softly Shannon's currents flow!

His shadow in the stream I see;

The very waters seem to know

Dear is the freight they bear to me.

His eager bound, his hasty tread,

His well-known voice I'll shortly hear;

And oh, those arms so kindly spread!

That greetings smile! That manly tear!

In other lands, when far away,

My love with hope did never twain;

It saw him thus, both night and day,

To Shannon's banks return'd again.