Surrounded by dear friends
With all that wealth and title can bring
But I seem to be ungrateful
To God whose goodness brings
My many gifts, an excise hard to cheer
For my heart is far from here,
I'll never call this country my abode.
For my heart keeps going westward,
with every passing breeze,
To the cottage on the island
You know I'm tired of the city life
with all its wealth and sin
Indeed, when I lay down my heavy load
Just to live in peace and comfort
In the cottage on the island
I can hear the awful noises
made by lightning, fire, and steam
I'm dazzled by the fierce electric light
The fog horn of the engine
are familiar sounds to me
The music of black water as it flows
And to kiss the paths so hollow
You know I'm tired of the city life,
with all its wealth and sin
Indeed when I lay down my heavy load
Just to live in peace and comfort
In the cottage on the island
In the cottage on the island
