This song of a shipwrecked sweetheart was the first of Foster's "Willie" songs. It was published in 1861. Background music is in the key of G
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6 -6 6 7 8 -8 7 On the lone-ly sea-beat shore 7 -8 6 -6 -7 7 -8 7 8 A ma-id-en fa-ir was weep-ing 6 -6 6 7 8 -8 7 Call-ing one who far-a-way -7 -6 -8 7 -7 8 -8 -8 7 be-ne-ath the wa-ve was sleep-ing -8 -8 8 8 -8 -7 -8 Thus her sad un-chang-ing strain -7 -6 -7 -8 6 6 -7 -6 6 Flo-at-ed e-v-er on the main 8 -8 7 6 5 Come o'er the bil-low, 8 -8 7 6 Ride on the wave 6 -6 -7 7 -8 8 Come while the wind blo-eth -9 6 -7 7 Wil-lie my brave! verse 2 Said his bark would soon return And with a kiss they parted But when a year had passed away She then grew weary hearted Oh! 'twas sad, from day to day, To hear the maiden's plaintive lay Come o'er the billow, ride on the wave, Come while the wind bloweth, willie my brave! verse 3 None who knew the maiden's grief, And saw her heart's devotion Would ell her of the fragile bark Tht sank beneath the ocean; But when all hope had passed away Her life breathed forth its parting lay Come o'er the billow, Ride on the wave, Come while the wind bloweth, Willie my brave!
