Come, sing to me of sterling love,
A wild and gladsome strain;
To fall like sunshine from above,
That dances on the main;
To fall and play within my soul,
In feelings deep and strong;
Till all the golden billows roll
To love’s majestic song!

Come, sing of some heroic maid,
That saw congenial heart;
And though his path in darkness laid,
She could not, would not part;
But still with constant care was true,
And after struggles long,
Was joined to him, with honor due;
Come, sing this love in song!

Come, sing the freedom, wealth, and worth
That love alone can give;
Unfold the heaven o’erarching earth,
Where loving spirits live.
Oh! tell the tale, till hearts are fired,
To crush unfaithful wrong;
And by the sense of love inspired,
Delight in true love’s song!

Come, sing the tears, the sighs, and groans,
Neglected love has known;
Detail the sad, heart-rending moans,
When love from earth has flown;
And break our cold, unmanly pride,
Reveal love’s angel throng;
And teach us faith, where we deride,
By love’s melodious song.

Nay, sing no more, my heart is sad,
It cannot bear the strain;
And yet I trow, ‘tis truly glad,
That such pure loves remain!
Oh, yes! true love still blesses all,
Who fear to do it wrong,
And list to hear its gracious call—
It’s everlasting song!

By W. Brunton, Peterson’s 1871