My brothers and I once set sail
Into the open sea
My brothers said “we must go east!”
But to the west went me

My brothers begged me “the wind is strong!”
I did not heed their plea
I sailed against the furious current
Into the western sea

I fought and fought, of treasure I thought
And toil was the key
On and on for days I went
Yet I saw no prize for me

The only thing the west brought me
Was right back to the east
In the east the treasure would lie
Surely it must be

For days and days I sailed away
Yet the journey was not free
My health declined, my body whined
But of no concern to the sea

When I reached the land I had sought
the treasure for that I had fought
were my brothers three.