Dreaming to Take My Leave

I was born upon the sea
On a big ship named The Heir of Me
Not quite captive but not quite free
Dreaming to take my leave

For many years I worked the sails
Listening to the captain’s tales
Seeing but never catching whales
Dreaming to take my leave

I scrubbed the decks from fore to aft
and watched parts break aboard this craft
it took on water and deepened its draft
filling with the sea like you wouldn’t believe

I warned the master
of coming disaster
but the skipper ordered to press on faster
Dreaming to take my leave

We tacked along as best we could
rusted bolts and rotten wood
never docking as we should
Dreaming to take my leave

We suffered sickness, rot, and strife
the mutiny was always rife
But as a good sailor, I committed for life
Working with a mighty heave

One day the aged skipper said,
Calling me to his captain’s bed,
Take the helm before I’m dead
I thought long and hard that eve

Then I looked at my captain and answered no,
I will not go down with this ship you know
Should have done so long ago
And I took my leave to go.

And now on my own ship, I sail
I keep my crew hearty and hale
I make repairs so as not to fail
so my crew I won’t aggrieve

And we sail on through night and day
across smooth seas to far away
but I hear my sailors’ songs convey
Dreaming to take their leave