​

Joaquin Miller. Unknown.

(A German Air.)

1. Be - hind him lay the gray A - zores, Be - hind the gates of

2. "My men grow mut'- nous day by day; My men grow ghast-ly

3. They sailed and sailed, as winds might blow, Un - til at last the

4. They sailed, they sailed, then spoke his mate: "This mad sea shows his

5. Then, pale and worn, he kept his deck. And thro' the dark-ness

Her - cu - les; Be - fore him not the ghost of shores. Be -

wan and weak." The stout mate tho't of home; a spray Of

blanch'd mate said; "Why, now, not e - ven God would know Should

teeth to - night, He curls his lip, he lies in wait, With

peered that night. Ah, dark - est night! and then a speck — A

fore him on - ly shore - less seas. The good mate said: "Now

salt wave wash'd his swar - thy cheek. "What shall I say, brave

I and all my men fall dead. These ver - y winds for -

lift - ed teeth as if to bite ! Brave Ad - mi - ral, say

light! a light! a light! a - light! It grew—a star - lit

must we pray, For lo! the ver - y stars are gone; Speak,

Ad - mi - ral, If we sight naught but seas at dawn?" "Why,

get their way, For God from these dread seas is gone. Now

but one word; What shall we do when hope is gone?" The

flag un - furled! It grew to be Time's burst of dawn; He

Ad - mi - ral, what shall I say?" "Why say, sail on! and on!"

you shall say, at break of day: 'Sail on! sail on! and on!"

speak, brave Ad - mi - ral, and say— He said: "Sail on! and on!"

words leaped as a leap - ing sword: "Sail on! sail on! and on!"

gained a world! he gave that world Its watch-word: "On ! and on!"