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About the song

An epic folk ballad. A sailor mourns the loss of a boy at sea.

music and lyrics by Joseph Trefler

Lyrics:

I'M HERE ABOARD THIS VESSEL—BEEN SAILIN' ALL MY DAYS.
SO I KNOW THE SEA CAN KILL YA' IN A THOUSAND DIFFERENT WAYS.
MY DAUGHTER BACK ON LAND SAYS IT SCARES HER HALF TO DEATH,
BUT I'LL SAIL THE SEAS UNTIL MY DYIN' BREATH.

A YOUNG BOY JOINED THE CREW THIS TRIP—I'D KNOWN HIM FOR SOME TIME.
HE THOUGHT HE KNEW IT ALL, BUT I GUESS WE ALL DO IN OUR PRIME.
HE WOULDN'T WEAR A LIFELINE—IN A PINCH HE'D RATHER SWIM.
AND BESIDES, A GIRL BACK HOME WOULD PRAY FOR HIM.

SO I WARNED HIM, “THE WATER'S LIKE A FOE WE MUST BRAVE.
RESPECT THE SEA, OR I GUARANTEE SHE'LL PROVIDE AN EARLY GRAVE.
SO BOW YOUR HEAD IN PRAYER, SAY THE WORDS AND YOU'LL BE FINE.
BUT JUST IN CASE, BE SURE YOU'RE ON A LINE.”

THE BOY, HE DIDN'T LISTEN—HE THOUGHT HE WAS WISE.
I TOLD HIM HE WAS FOOLISH, BUT HE WOULDN'T COMPROMISE.
HE SAID A LINE WAS NOTHING, WASN'T SCARED THAT HE WOULD DROWN,
AND HIS GIRL'S THE ONLY THING TO TIE HIM DOWN.

AND HE TOLD ME, “THE WATER'S LIKE A LOVER TO EMBRACE.
SHE'LL FIGHT YOU AND DELIGHT YOU WHEN CONFRONTED FACE TO FACE.”
SO COULD THERE BE NO REASON TO FEAR THE SALTY BRINE?
IN CASE THERE WAS, I STAYED TIED TO A LINE.

THAT NIGHT THE SEA WAS ROLLIN', THE SKY COMPLETELY BLACK.
THE ICY WIND WAS HOWLIN', THE BOY HE HOWLED RIGHT BACK.
“THE SEA WILL NEVER TOUCH ME!” THE BOY WENT AND ROARED,
WHEN A FORTY-FOOTER CRASHED OVERBOARD.

THE SHIP WAS PITCHED TO STARBOARD. I WAS THROWN INTO THE SWELL.
THANK GOD I'D TIED MY LIFELINE, OR THERE'D BE NO TALE TO TELL.
I SAW THE BOY GO UNDER, SAW THE TERROR ON HIS FACE.
WHEN I SURFACED HE WAS GONE WITHOUT A TRACE.

I'M HERE ABOARD THIS VESSEL—BEEN SAILIN' ALL MY DAYS.
SO I KNOW THE SEA CAN KILL YA' IN A THOUSAND DIFFERENT WAYS.
BUT HOW TO TELL MY DAUGHTER THAT HER LOVE IS LOST AT SEA?
HOW CAN I FIND THE WORDS?
ARE THERE EVER REALLY WORDS?
I'LL SAIL UNTIL THE WORDS COME TO ME.

The sheet music is available in the following keys/versions: D-major (same as recording), E-major (up a whole step).

Backing track is in the same key as the recording.

About the composer

See 14 more songs by the composer.

Composer-lyricist forging exciting new musicals in a diversity of styles - from brassy golden age-inspired scores to contemporary musical theatre.

Sheet music is carefully formatted for ease of use. Scores include chord symbols to help audition pianists play the score accurately — and help you nail your audition!

Twitter: @joseph_trefler
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Website: josephtrefler-composer.com/