When Ships Put Out to Sea
I
It’s “Sweet, good-bye,” when pennants fly
And ships put out to sea;
It’s a loving kiss, and a tear or two
In an eye of brown or an eye of blue;—
And you’ll remember me,
Sweetheart,
And you’ll remember me.
II
It’s “Friend or foe?” when signals blow
And ships sight ships at sea;
It’s clear for action, and man the guns,
As the battle nears or the battle runs;—
And you’ll remember me,
Sweetheart,
And you’ll remember me.
III
It’s deck to deck, and wrath and wreck
When ships meet ships at sea;
It’s scream of shot and shriek of shell,
And hull and turret a roaring hell;—
And you’ll remember me,
Sweetheart,
And you’ll remember me.
IV
It’s doom and death, and pause a breath
When ships go down at sea;
It’s hate is over and love begins,
And war is cruel whoever wins;—
And you’ll remember me,
Sweetheart,
And you’ll remember me.