I go unwilling and unarmed Recruited by age I lay me down The medals gleaming on my coat Mean nothing now, my vessel weak Hard for my ship to stay afloat The ocean once sparkling blue A dingy grey of lowering clouds Dark and foreboding as a storm I recall standing proudly on the prow My crew would not know me now There are things to accept, things to learn Time to know my place, take the stern My orders once barked in strident tone Now a whisper, not my own My ship becalmed, canons disarmed Her flag that once flew with pride Is still, no wind can stir her, colours bled I salute and a gust raises her high, A blood red pennant in a star filled sky I am not afraid to die