MY SHIPSIf all the ships I have at seaShould come a-sailing home to me,Ah, well! the harbour could not holdSo many sails as there would beIf all my ships came in from sea.If half my ships came home from sea,And brought their precious freight to me,Ah, well! I should have wealth as greatAs any king who sits in state—So rich the treasures that would beIn half my ships now out at sea.If just one ship I have at seaShould come a-sailing home to me,Ah, well! the storm-clouds then might frownFor if the others all went down,Still rich and proud and glad I’d beIf that one ship came back to me.If that one ship went down at sea,And all the others came to me,Weighed down with gems and wealth untold,With glory, honours, riches, gold,The poorest soul on earth I’d beIf that one ship came not to me.O skies, be calm! O winds, blow free—Blow all my ships safe home to me!But if thou sendest some a-wrack,To never more come sailing back,Send any—all that skim the sea,But bring my love-ship home to me.
If all the ships I have at seaShould come a-sailing home to me,Ah, well! the harbour could not holdSo many sails as there would beIf all my ships came in from sea.
If half my ships came home from sea,And brought their precious freight to me,Ah, well! I should have wealth as greatAs any king who sits in state—So rich the treasures that would beIn half my ships now out at sea.
If just one ship I have at seaShould come a-sailing home to me,Ah, well! the storm-clouds then might frownFor if the others all went down,Still rich and proud and glad I’d beIf that one ship came back to me.
If that one ship went down at sea,And all the others came to me,Weighed down with gems and wealth untold,With glory, honours, riches, gold,The poorest soul on earth I’d beIf that one ship came not to me.
O skies, be calm! O winds, blow free—Blow all my ships safe home to me!But if thou sendest some a-wrack,To never more come sailing back,Send any—all that skim the sea,But bring my love-ship home to me.