Abbeyside
I am a sailor who sailed the seven seas
Been many times around the horn
The seven wonders mean nothing much to me
When I return to where I was born
From Valparaiso north to Newfoundland
The tides of change have carried me
And yet my pleasure is walking on the strand
Beneath the shade of the Abbey
Though I travelled far and wide
Still I’d think of Abbeyside
In far off shores I seemed to find
That village in my mind
In scorching sun or lashing rain
Wishing i was once again
Sailing homeward on the tide
Homeward bound for Abbeyside
I shared the ocean with dolphins and with whales
Heard summer breezes sighing
I climbed the rigging in winter’s mighty gales
And felt the fear of dying
Drank rum and whiskey and sang old sailing songs
With comrades drunk and sober
And now my race is run, i’m back where i belong
My sailing days are over
And in the summer i walk down by the pond
Then rest awhile in the poor man’s chair
I think of shipmates and friends long dead and gone
Somehow I know they’re always here
I see the Cunnigar a friend with outstretched hand
The lighthouse at me winking
And people rushing by don’t seem to understand
They’ve got no time for thinking
