I bought my love a violin so he could play for me I bought my love a violin to calm the waves of the stormy sea Though he'd be gone the longest time he'd return again to me And every note my darling played Took further away my love from me My name's Maria Robinson he called me Sweet Marie And that's the song that all night Long my darling boy would play to me All through that long remembered night I heard that melody And the notes he played while the few were saved Took further away my love from me That ship went down to the mournful sound Of my sweetheart's violin With no safety vest he strapped to his Chest the case he'd placed it gently in And the icy water froze his breath but it never froze his heart By the song he played a pact was made That my love and I would never part I bought my love a violin so he could play for me I bought my love a violin to calm the waves of a stormy sea There are those who say Wallace Hartley played 'Nearer my God to thee' But our souls were bound as that great boat went down And in my heart the band played 'Sweet Marie'