Full Lyrics
I saw a ship asailing, asailing, asailing,
With emeralds and rubies and sapphires in her hold;
And a bosun in a blue coat bawling at the railing,
Piping through a silver call that had a chain of gold;
The summer wind was failing and the tall ship rolled.
I saw a ship asteering, asteering, asteering,
With roses in red thread worked upon her sails;
With sacks of purple amethysts, the spoils of buccaneering,
Skins of musky yellow wine, and silks in bales.
Her merry men were cheering, hauling on the brails.
I saw a ship asinking, asinking, asinking,
With glittering seawater splashing on her decks,
With seamen in her spiritroom singing songs and drinking,
Pulling claret bottles down, and knocking off their necks,
The broken glass was clinking as she sank among the wrecks.
