Upon Life's Ocean Cast Away - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
Upon Life's Ocean Cast Away. Copyright, MDCCCXCIV, by Henry J. Wehman. Words and Music by George J. Southwick. 
The scene is in a concert hall, 'midst revelry and song, Where wine and women help to lure the dreary, hours along. A girl, once fair, sits all alone; with tears her eyes are wet; Her heart for home and mother yearns, ah! these she can't forget. She's but a homeless outcast now, none ever speak her name, Turned from the door with father's curse, though she was not to blame. It simply is the old, sad tale, her lover she believed, And listened to his vows of love, confided-was deceived. 
Chorus. Many a soul we'll find to-day, Upon life's ocean cast away, With ne'er a helping hand in sight, To lead them back where life is bright; Many an aching heart bereft, With not one hope of solace left, Pleads in despair for help to-day, Upon life's ocean cast away. 
A sad old man who sees the girl, comes over to her side: "My dear." he says, "why do you cry? won't you in me confide? I pity you in your distress, believe me, I'm sincere, For I once had a daughter fair, who's gone astray. I fear; For years I've searched for her in vain; she sinned, ah! yes, I know, But I've forgiven ev'rything, I long to tell her so!" The girl now lifts her drooping head, the "Id man gives a cry: It is his long lost daughter, Nell, he'd wronged in days gone by.-Cho. 
Overjoyed, he tells his daughter, then, that he will pardon all, If she will to her home return, where harm cannot befall. Says he, "I'm sorry for you, dear, 'twas wrong to treat you so, But we'll go back to mother now, your story none shall know. She answers, "Yes, I will return to home and mother dear. For, sheltered by a mother's love. I've nothing more to fear." And so they dwell together now. Nell has no wish to roam. And all is happiness to-day, within that dear old home.- Chorus.