Dreaming of the Delaware

I have been far away from the Delaware's shore,

From the river where once I did play,

But I'm dreaming tonight by the old cottage door

Where the moonlight is gleaming bright as day.

Dreaming, dreaming, dreaming of that dear old stream,

Dreaming of the days that are no more —

The days so bright and fair,

Dreaming in the moonlight gleaming on the shore

Of the dear old Delaware.

And the river is still, and so peaceful tonight

That its murmur I scarcely can hear,

And across it the moonlight is beaming so bright

That the scenes of my childhood appear.

And I think of my mother who bade me farewell

And the sister who kist me good-bye —

They are sleeping below in that beautiful dell

But methinks that again they are nigh.

Long deserted has been the old river home,

My old home by the dear Delaware,

But never, O never again will I roam

From the scenes of my childhood so fair.

I will cherish the dreams I am dreaming tonight,

Will upbuild the old homestead once more,

And perhaps when I'm dead, for another's delight

It will bloom by the Delaware's shore.