Farewell

Farewell to the mountains, whose mazes to me
Were more beautiful far than Eden could be
No fruit was forbidden but nature had spread
Her bountiful board and her children were fed

The hills were our garners our herds wildly grew
And nature was shepherd and husbandman too
I felt like a monarch, yet thought like a man
As I thanked the Great Giver and worshiped His plan

The home I forsake where my offspring a-roam
The grave I forsake where my children reborn
The home I redeem from the savage and wild
The home I have loved as a father, his child

The corn that I planted, the fields that I cleared
The flocks that I've raised and the cattle I reared
The wife of my bosom, farewell to ye all
In the land of the stranger, I rise or I fall

Farewell to my country, I've fought for thee well
When the savage rushed forth like the demons from hell
In peace or in war, I have stood by thy side
My country for thee, I have lived, would have died

But I am cast off, my career now is run
And I wander abroad like the Prodigal Son
Where the wild savage roam and the broad Prairies spread
The fallen despised, will again go ahead