Sea Fever
I must go down to the seas again,
to the lonely sea and the sky,
and all i ask is a tall ship and
a star to steer her by;
and the wheel's kick and the wind's song
and the white sails shaking,
and a gray mist on the sea's face,
and a gray dawn braking.
I must go down to the seas again,
for the call of the running tide
is a wild call and a clear call
that may no be denied;
and all i ask is a windy day with
the white clouds flying,
and the flung spray and the blown spume,
and the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again,
to the vagrant gypsy life,
to the gull's way and the whale's way
where the wind's like a whetted knife;
and all i ask is a merry yarn
from a laughing fellow-rover,
and quiet sleep and a sweet dream
when the long trick's over.
I must go down to the seas again,
to the lonely sea and the sky,
and all i ask is a tall ship and
a star to steer her by;
and the wheel's kick and the wind's song
and the white sails shaking,
and a gray mist on the sea's face,
and a gray dawn braking.
I must go down to the seas again,
for the call of the running tide
is a wild call and a clear call
that may no be denied;
and all i ask is a windy day with
the white clouds flying,
and the flung spray and the blown spume,
and the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again,
to the vagrant gypsy life,
to the gull's way and the whale's way
where the wind's like a whetted knife;
and all i ask is a merry yarn
from a laughing fellow-rover,
and quiet sleep and a sweet dream
when the long trick's over.