[Verse 1]
All those little things that my grandfather said
Not so little now, here in my grown-up head
I didn't always see the wisdom at the time, but I'm older now
Right after lunch and a Café Royale, he'd take his combat nap
And slip away to God knows where, beneath his weathered cap
And doze off with that parlance, I came to understand

[Chorus]
Equal strain on all parts
Son, whatever course you set
It'll ease the pain on backs and brains and hearts
It's a solid thing to wish for, it's the wrong thing to forget
Lyin' in this hammock now, it sure feels good to get
An equal strain on all parts

[Verse 2]
It works on land, works at sea, for creatures big and small
Cooling down our cylinders, living's a long haul
Jokes and songs and travelin', they lift the fog
Words from a Newfie cabin boy still steer me near and far
And I'll pass them on in poems and songs before I cross the bar
It's worth a little time and space to understand

[Chorus]
Equal strain on all parts
Whatever course you set
It'll ease the pain on backs and brains and hearts
It's a solid thing to wish for, it's the wrong thing to forget
Lying in this hammock now, it sure feels good to get
An equal strain on all parts