Tom Paxton
A Sailor’s Life
Lie down, lie, sailors cry
When God's on the water
Pity those in his angry eye
Little lambs for slaughter
You'll get by, you'll set sail
You'll bring wonders to you
Let no strange scribbler write your tale
Lest he say he knew you
Rocks and shoals and maelstrom holes
Plague the sailor's weary souls
Storm and gale, a shredded sail
Pray the captain doesn't fail
Lie down, lie, sailors cry
Helpless sailors stranded
Lie down, lie, they will surely die
Long before they've landed
Rocks and shoals, maelstrom holes
Plague the sailor's weary souls
Storm and gale, shredded sail
Pray the captain doesn't fail
Lie down, lie, sailors cry
When God's on the water
Pity those in his angry eye
Little lambs for slaughter