[Verse 1]
Last night while I lay sleeping
Last night while in a dream
I saw my dear old mother
Down by a misting stream
Don't ask me why I'm weeping
Don't ask me why I pray
For I've an aged mother
Ten thousand miles away
A letter here from sister dear
Come home we're all alone
Dear mother's slowly fading
She can't be living long

[Chorus]
Well, ah-le-ho, le-ho-lay
Well, ah-le-ho, le-ho-lay
Out in the cold world
Left all alone

[Verse 2]
I'm drawing near the old home
Dear sister's at the gate
She's leading me through the doorway
Oh brother you've come to late
Oh lead me to the casket
Through back the linen so fine
That I may kiss her pale white lips
For I know they'll never kiss mine
I see the pale moon shining
On mother's whitened stone
The rose buds round them twining
Are just me all alone
[Chorus]