Sailing home

Head the ship for England!

Shake out every sail!

Blithe leap the billows,

Merry sings the gale.

Captain, work the reckoning;

How many knots a day? —

Round the world and home again,

That's the sailor's way!

We've traded with the Yankees,

Brazilians and Chinese;

We've laughed with dusky beauties

In shade of tall palm-trees;

Across the line and Gulf-Stream —

Round by Table Bay —

Everywhere and home again,

That's the sailor's way!

Nightly stands the North Star

Higher on our bow;

Straight we run for England;

Our thoughts are in it now.

Jolly times with friends ashore,

When we've drawn our pay! —

All about and home again,

That's the sailor's way!

Tom will to his parents,

Jack will to his dear,

Joe to wife and children,

Bob to pipes and beer;

Dicky to the dancing-room,

To hear the fiddles play; —

Round the world and home again,

That's the sailor's way!