Thou wert once the purest wave Where the tempests roar； Thou art now a golden wave On the golden shore —— Ever —— ever —— evermore！

    Thou wert once the bluest wave Shadows e'er hung o'er； Thou art now the brightest wave On the brightest shore —— Ever —— ever -evermore！

    Thou wert once the gentlest wave Ocean ever bore； Thou art now the fairest wave On the fairest shore —— Ever —— ever —— evermore！

    Whiter foam¹ than thine, O wave, Wavelet never wore, Stainless² wave； and now you lave The far and stormless shore —— Ever —— ever -evermore！

    Who bade thee go, O bluest wave, Beyond the tempest's roar？ Who bade thee flow, O fairest wave, Unto the golden shore, Ever —— ever -evermore？

    Who waved a hand, O purest wave？ A hand that blessings³ bore, And wafted⁴ thee, O whitest wave, Unto the fairest shore, Ever —— ever -evermore？

    Who winged thy way, O holy wave, In days and days of yore？ And wept the words： "O winsome⁵ wave, This earth is not thy shore！" Ever —— ever —— evermore？

    Who gave thee strength, O snowy wave —— The strength a great soul wore —— And said： "Float up to God！ my wave, His heart shall be thy shore！" Ever —— ever —— evermore？

    Who said to thee, O poor, weak wave： "Thy wail⁶ shall soon be o'er, Float on to God, and leave me, wave, Upon this rugged⁷ shore！" Ever —— ever —— evermore？

    And thou hast reached His feet！ Glad wave, Dost dream of days of yore？ Dost yearn⁸ that we shall meet, pure wave, Upon the golden shore, Ever —— ever —— evermore？

    Thou sleepest in the calm, calm wave, Beyond the wild storm's roar！ I watch amid the storm, bright wave, Like rock upon the shore； Ever

    - ever —— evermore！ Sing at the feet of God, white wave, Song sweet as one of yore！ I would not bring thee back, heart wave, To break upon this shore, Ever —— ever —— evermore！