[Intro]

A small boy, bucket in hand
Building castles in the sand
Thinking of his life that lies ahead
An engine driver, sailor, why not a king
Of the sand castle as the gypsy woman said

Taking a ride on a dinky rail
The green engine that's old
Could be a royal procession through big city streets
Waving to the crowds from a sand carpet of gold
Shaking hands of the V.I.P.s one meets

Sailing a toy boat in a rock pool
Thinking that it could be
The queen Mary passing the Cape Horn tip
Oh, something majestic, sailing worldwide seas
Attention please, I'm the captain of your ship

After all these thoughts and more, the boy returned to find
That the sandcastles had been washed into the seas
Head in hands, eyes full of tears
And a mixed up mind
The gypsy woman can't foresee the years
[Outro]