Farewell to Nova Scotia

A popular folk song from Nova Scotia of unknown authorship. It is believed to have been written just prior to or during the First World War. Farewell to Nova Scotia brings the listener back to an age when Nova Scotia was reknowned for "wooden ships and iron men".
In modern times, the song has echoed the massive migrations from Nova Scotia (and elsewhere from the Maritimes) westward to Ontario and Alberta.

Lyrics

The sun was setting in the west
The birds were singing on every tree
All nature seemed to be at rest

Chorus
Farewell to Nova Scotia, your sea-bound coast
Let your mountains dark and dreary be
For when I am far away on the briny ocean tossed
Will you ever heave a sigh or a wish for me?

I grieve to leave my native land
I grieve to leave my comrades all
And my parents whom I love so dear
And the bonnie, bonnie lassie that I do adore.

Chorus

The drums they do beat and the wars to alarm
The captain calls, I must obey
So fare-thee-well, fare-thee-well to Nova Scotia's charms
For it's early in the morning I am far, far away.

Chorus

I have three brothers and they are at rest
Their arms are folded on their breast
But a poor simple sailor just like me
Must be tossed ino the deep blue sea.

Chorus

Both the tune and lyrics are public domain, and therefore many different Nova Scotian artists have released their own recordings of Farewell to Nova Scotia, including Anne Murray and the late Stan Rogers.