what these sails have done to me (Paul O’Brien)

As a lad I walked the cobbled quay

On my evenings journey home

And stirring in my blood

Was this longing for to roam

I’d listen to the old men

And their tales of cities far

And I dreamt about the tall ships

The canvas and the tar

What these sails

Have done to me

From the first day

I went to sea

In the lines on my skin

You can see

What these sails

Have done to me

As soon as I was old enough

I signed as cabin boy

On a schooner bound for xxxx

My heart fail leapt for joy

I longed to see the ocean wide

But little did I know

I’d spend my time at sea

In the galley down below

I can’t remember all the girls

Or even every port of call

But I know they weren’t all pretty

Of if they were girls at all

Like the ones on Bogey Street

Hungry for your pay

Two dollars for a rum and coke

Ten dollars for a lay

I love to tell my tales

When I’ve had a drink or two

I ramble on about my ships

And show you my tattoos

There’s and anchor on my shoulder

That I got in Singapore

And an arrow through a heart

But you’ve seen that one before