By the side of the silent river,
Which moves so tranquilly,
In its downward course forever,
I sit and think of thee.
On the shore of life's wide, drear ocean,
I pine all alone on the pier,
With my heart full of deepest emotion
And longing for you, my Dear.
And as constant and true in devotion
As the river's course down to the sea,
And far deeper indeed than the ocean,
Is my lasting love of thee.
Oh the ship of my love seems freighted
Too heavily to arrive.
And my hope too dissipated
Much longer to survive.
Flow on, O silent river!
Sail home, O ship to me!
For my love is true forever,
True to eternity.
