Merrily ! merrily on we sail !

Merrily! merrily on we sail!
The sailor's life is gay!
His hopes are on the fav'ring gale,
And whether it freshen, or whether it fail,
Or whether by night or day;
He recks not, cares not, no! not he,
For his home is ever upon the sea,
And his God is near, his guide and stay;
Then should not the sailors life be gay I

Merrily! merrily on we go!
The sailor's life is free!
Cares but few his heart may know,
For wherever the breeze that bears him blow,
There still his home shall be:
And by night or by day the darkling deep
Is the same to the eye that never doth sleep,
And his God is the God that rules the sea;
Then should not the sailor's life be free?

Merrily! merrily on we sweep!
The sailor's life is blest!
For he knows the wonders of the deep,
And who alone his bark can keep
By night or day at rest;
He knows by Whom each breeze is given,
Each calm he feels comes fresh from heav'n,
And the thought of his God ever buoys his breast,
Then should not the sailor's life be blest?

Merrily! merrily on we fly!
The sailor's life is dear!
There's not a cloud across the sky,
His throbbing heart is beating high,
For ah! his home is near!
And his eye glistens as he sees
His native vale, its cots and trees,
But the God of comfort dries the tear,
Then should not the sailor's life be dear?

Thus the sailor's life is gay and free,
And it is blest and dear;
Then should not he speed merrily
Along the deep and dark blue sea,
With nothing there to fear?
For with his Father at the helm,
No tempests can his bark o'erwhelm,
His sea is safe, his haven near,
For the sailor's life to his God is dear f