Van Dyke Parks
Sail On, Sailor (Live 1975)
[Verse 1]
I sailed an ocean, unsettled ocean
Through restful waters and deep commotion
Often frightened, unenlightened
Sail on, sail on, sailor

[Verse 2]
I wrest the waters, fight Neptune's waters
Sail through the sorrows of life's marauders
Unrepenting, often empty
Sail on, sail on, sailor

[Bridge]
Caught like a sewer rat, alone, but I sail
Bought like a crust of bread, but oh, do I wail

[Chorus]
Seldom stumble, never crumble
Try to tumble, life's a rumble
Feel the stinging I've been given
Never ending, unrelenting
Heartbreak searing, always fearing
Never clearing, persevering
Sail on, sail on, sailor

[Verse 3]
I work the seaways, the gale-swept seaways
Past shipwrecked daughters of wicked waters
Uninspired, drenched and tired
Wail on, wail on, sailor
[Chorus 2]
Always needing, even bleeding
Never feeding all my feelings
Damn the thunder, must I blunder
There's no wonder all I'm under
Stop the crying and the lying
And the sighing and my dying
Sail on, sail on, sailor

[Outro]
Sail on, sail on, sailor
Sail on, sail on, sailor
Sail on, sail on, sailor
Sail on, sail on, sailor
Sail on, sail on, sailor
Sail on, sail on, sailor