Harbor

A sea shanty?

“Harbor”

 

And when the ships sail back into the harbor

We’ll be there to greet them with cheers and with ale

And when the ships sail back into the harbor

We’ll know that our brave fleet shall always prevail

 

You can see the first sails there upon the horizon

Is it the young admiral’s; oh is it the queen’s?

A third one, a fourth one, a fifth on the horizon

The tales they will tell of the places they’ve seen

 

And when the ships sail back into the harbor

We’ll be there to greet them with cheers and with ale

And when the ships sail back into the harbor

We’ll know that our brave fleet shall always prevail

 

They’ve been gone a long time, so long on the ocean

With no bodies to warm them except for their own

They’ve been gone a long time, gave in to the ocean

With only their hands and their mouths and their bones

 

And when the ships sail back into the harbor

We’ll be there to greet them with cheers and with ale

We’re the lads and the lasses for sale on the harbor

We’ll wait in our windows, we’ll always prevail

 

Reviews

[Ieuan Cilgwri]

Scott - this is the second sea shanty I've heard / read this week - I saw one performed at a local night. I liked the consistency of the rhythm throughout and the inherent salty tang of the sea on the whole thing. I run along the shore every day so I imagine ships coming into ports on the Mersey or Dee - local rivers. Faithful to those songs sung by our ancestors too.

[Christopher 'Windstorm'..]

i like the structure you use here gives the pomore depth well done