Take Sounding

Take sounding, my friend.
That you may live your life until the bitter end.
Take sounding, my friend,
Nail your colors to the mast of The Reckoning.

May you wake up to the sound,
Of an ocean breeze surround,
And may the Zephyr be the only wind you know.
In the doldrums of the night,
May you find a sweet delight,
And may the woman of your dream be by your side.
May she be worthy of the sea,
May she be broad in the beams,
For the copper-bottomed lady I can't wait to meet.

And when you sail beyond the cove,
Beware the Cape of Forlorn Hope,
It's somewhere 'tween the Devil and the deep blue sea.
But if you hear the beck and call,
Of a Siren's dreadful squall,
And you live to tell the tale as we have done.
Plug your sailors' ears with wax,
And tie yourself unto the mast,
For death is in the offing, for this I know.

When next you come upon The Graves,
Take your sounding and be brave,
For I may not be around this time to see you through.
But if you ever lose your way,
And all your courage slips away,
Just keep on sailing ever closer to the wind.
For every storm that's ever been must weaken and subside,
So hold your course and cast away,
Your worries and your pride.