Do you heed the call of the sea my son, do you hear it’s voice?
No sir, only a murmuring whence the silver fish rejoice.
Do you mark the sound of the sea as the tide o’er flows the strand?
A little I do I think sir, for it speaks of a foreign land.
Does the sound of thunder affright you, or the flash so vivid and bright?
No sir it does not affright me, it fills me with wondrous delight.
What think you the life of a sailor? could you leave those you love on the strand and stride off over the shingle to face dangers in far away lands?
Plainly that would be hard sir, and my heart would be broken in two,
but I think I should just have to bear it, for that is what sailors must do!