I must go down to the seas again, to
sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star
by;
And the wheel's kick and the wind's
the white sail's shaking,
the lonely
to steer her
song and
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and
dawn breaking,
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white
clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and
the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again, to the
vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's
the wind's like a whetted knife;
way where
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing
fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the
long trick's over.
a grey
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of
the running tide