COLLECTED FROM GEORGE PATTISON

GOODBYE, FARE THE WELL

George Pattison
Cape de Couedie Lighthouse
Kangaroo Island
South Australia
4 Dec 1924 (and 1941)
Clive Carey SS408

Soon we’ll be with the bonny young girls
Good-bye, fare ye well,
Good-bye, fare ye well
(Would bring in the name of their favourite girl)
Matilda all covered with sugar and rum

I dream’d I heard the old man say,
Good-bye, fare ye well,
Good-bye, fare ye well,
Hurrah, my boys, we’re homeward bound.

We’re homeward bound with sugar and rum
Good-bye, fare ye well,
Good-bye, fare ye well,
We’re homeward bound with sugar and rum
Hurrah, my boys, we’re homeward bound.

Oh fair ye well, my bonny young girls

Oh don’t you hear the old man say

We’re homeward bound to London Town

Our anchors are weighed, our sails all are set

Soon we’ll be with Polly and Bet

We’re homeward bound, you hear the sound

So heave the capstan and turn it around.

These verses do not appear in Hugill who makes comment that is song, along with Rolling Home, were the two most popular homeward-bound songs of them all.