Fare you well, the Prince's Landing Stage,
River Mersey, fare you well.
I'm off to California,
A place I know right well.
So fare you well, my own true love,
When I return united we will be.
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me,
But me darling, when I think on you.
I'm off to California,
By the way of the stormy Cape Horn,
And I will send to you a letter, love,
When I am homeward bound.
Farewell to Lover Frederick Street,
Anson Terrace and Park Lane;
Farewell, it will be some long time
Before I see you again.
I've shipped on a Yankee clipper ship,
Davy Crockett is her name;
And Burgess is the captain of her,
And they say she's a floating hell.
It's my second trip with Burgess in the Crockett,
And I think I know him sell.
If a man's a sailor, he can get along,
But if not, he's sure in hell.
The tug is waiting at the pierhead
To take us down the stream.
Our sails are loose and our anchor secure,
So I'll bid you good-bye once more.
I'm bound away to leave you,
Goodbye, my love, good-bye.
There ain't but one thing that grieves me;
That's leaving you behind.
Now, fare you well, the Prince's Landing Stage,
River Mersey, fare you well.
I'm off to California,
A place I know right well.