Jehtro Tull

Flying Dutchman



Old lady with a barrow; life near ending
Standing by the harbour wall; warm wishes sending
  children on the cold sea swell ---
  not fishers of men ---
  gone to chase away the last herring:
  come empty home again.
So come all you lovers of the good life
  on your supermarket run ---
Set a sail of your own devising
  and be there when the Dutchman comes.
Wee girl in a straw hat: from far east warring
Sad cargo of an old ship: young bodies whoring
Slow ocean hobo --- ports closed to her crew
No hope of immigration --- keep on passing through.
So come all you lovers of the good life
  your children playing in the sun ---
  set a sympathetic flag a-flying
  and be there when the Dutchman comes.  

Death grinning like a scarecrow --- Flying Dutchman
Seagull pilots flown from nowhere --- try and touch one
  as she slips in on the full tide
  and the harbour-master yells
All hands vanished with the captain ---
  no one left, the tale to tell.

So come all you lovers of the good life
Look around you, can you see?
Staring ghostly in the mirror ---
  it"s the Dutchman you will be
..floating slowly out to sea
  in a misty misery.