[Verse 1]
When the wind is high the whitecaps curl
The waters run with an oily swirl
The skipper says, "I love this world
It's the only one we'll see

[Verse 2]
"If your luck is in, you can see the fish
Though they swim as deep as your deepest wish"
The sound of his voice was feverish
And he gave the wheel to me

[Chorus]
Who writes the story?
I don't know any more
And maybe nothing's what it seems
Spare me the glory
Just get me safe on shore
And I'll only put to sea in my dreams

[Verse 3]
The sky grew dark and it blew a squall
We saw the weather-glass fall and fall
Then a wave rose up like a mountain wall
We stared up at the sea
[Verse 4]
With a mortgaged boat and a stack of debt
Maybe more than your feet get wet
He looked, he shrugged, and he cut the net
He set his fortune free

[Chorus]
Who writes the story?
I don't know any more
And maybe nothing's what it seems
Spare me the glory
Just get me safe on shore
And I'll only put to sea in my dreams

[Verse 5]
The skipper yelled, "We can haul and bail
We can fight like hell but we always fail
To the beast with the green and glittering scales
Rolling loose below"

[Verse 6]
The wave came on and we couldn't hide
We spun half-round and began to slide
Maybe that's when the skipper went over the side
We never saw him go
[Chorus]
Love, are you glory?
I don't know any more
And maybe nothing's what it seems
Out of the story
Just bring me safe to shore
And I'll only put to sea—
Who writes the story?
I don't know any more
And maybe nothing's what it seems
Spare me the glory
Just get me safe on shore
And I'll only put to sea in my dreams

[Verse 7]
The ship's hull rang with a single crash
We shot to the top like a trumpet blast
Then the sea grew calm as a looking-glass
I hid my face and cried