Standing in the moonlight by the old garden gate   Nellie, my darlin', I know you will wait   Wait for me, dearest, he said in tears   Then I'll be your sweetheart through all the long years      I love you Nellie, yes I'll be true   All these long years have been just for you   And believe me, Nellie, when I'm far away   I'll not forget you, I'll be with you someday      Early next morning at the break of day   He was to journey so far away   Drawing her nearer, his promised bride   By the pale moonlight these words he replied      I love you Nellie, yes I'll be true   All these long years have been just for you   And believe me, Nellie, when I'm far away   I'll not forget you, I'll be with you someday      Nellie my darling, I'm coming home   The pilgramage over, no longer to roam   But the wedding was over, the knot had been tied   And he found his own sweetheart another man's bride.      Later they found him lying cold on the grass   A pistol beside him held so hard and fast   Then came the note that explained the deed   And in the pale moonlight these words you could read      I love you, Nellie, yes I've been true   All of my life has been just for you   And believe me, Nellie, when I'm far away   I'll not forget you, though I fade fast away.