My ship lies in the harbour, the full moon shining o'er
A salty breeze blows in the bay, I hear the combers roar
Tomorrow I am bound away, far from this land so poor
To start a new life far away from my misty morning shore

To leave my dear old mother will break her heart for sure
Likewise my agèd father I'll never see no more
But to leave my dear old Ireland it grieves me ten times o'er
Tomorrow I must sail away from my misty morning shore

Fare thee well, dear Ireland, it's westward I must go
But when I reach Amerikay, there's one thing that I know
That when the full moon is rising up in the east once more
I know it's also shining on my misty morning shore

It's been five years, dear Mother, since first I sailed away
I heard a famine took its toll the new arrivals say
But in this land of plenty I'll live forevermore
My heart's crossed the ocean on my misty morning shore

It's been nine years, dear Mother, I've taken me a wife
I've built a home for me and her down by the waterside
She's given me a daughter, sweet Erin is her name
I named her for my country and claimed her for its fame

But I long for you, dear Ireland, I will until I die
But when my life is over, it's here that I must lie
Down here by the ocean where my family can watch o'er
The full moon shining down on me
and my misty morning shore