[Verse 1]
You say, "Well met again, lock-keeper
We're laden even deeper than the time before
Oriental oils and tea brought down from Singapore"
As we wait for my lock to cycle
I say, "My wife has just given me a son"
"A son," you cry, "Is that all that you've done?

[Verse 2]
"She wears bougainvillea blossoms
You pluck 'em from her hair and toss 'em in the tide
Sweep her in your arms and carry her inside
Her sighs catch on your shoulder
Her moonlit eyes grow bold and wiser through the tears"
And I say, "How could you stand to lеave her for a year?"

[Chorus]
"Thеn come with me," you say
"To where the Southern Cross rides high upon your shoulder
Come with me," you cry
"Each day you tend this lock, you're one day older
And your blood grows colder"

[Post-Chorus]
But that anchor chain's a fetter
And with it you are tethered to the foam
And I wouldn't trade your life
For one hour of home
[Cellamba Solo]

[Verse 3]
Sure, I'm stuck here on the seaway
While you compensate for leeway through the trades
And you shoot the stars to see the miles you've made
And you laugh at hearts you've riven
But which of these has given us more love or life:
You, your tropic maids, or me, my wife?

[Chorus]
"Then come with me," you say
"To where the Southern Cross rides high upon your shoulder
Come with me," you cry
"Each day you tend this lock, you're one day older
And your blood grows colder"

[Post-Chorus]
But that anchor chain's a fetter
And with it you are tethered to the foam
And I wouldn't trade your life
For one hour of home
Ah, that anchor chain's a fetter
With it you are tethered to the foam
And I wouldn't trade your life
For one hour of home