34. Turn the Ship for Home | Act V: The Chase and the Silence

[Verse 1]
I saw the morning soften on your face,
And heard the sorrow time could not erase.
You spoke of those who wait beyond the foam,
And for one breath I thought you longed for home.

[Verse 2]
Your wife has watched the years go drifting by,
Your child has grown beneath a distant sky.
Though lost years cannot answer when you call,
The years to come need not be lost at all.

[Chorus]
Turn the ship for home, while still we have the day,
Before the last clear chance is swept away.
Let every sailor see his native shore,
And hold the ones he loves in peace once more.

[Verse 3]
I see my wife beside our open door,
And hear my child's small footsteps on the floor.
I do not dream of glory from the deep,
I dream of promises I mean to keep.

[Verse 4]
I saw you take young Pip's unsteady hand,
And offer warmth where fear had made its stand.
That kindness told me what your heart can be,
More than the wound that binds you to the sea.

[Chorus]
Turn the ship for home, while still we have the day,
Before the last clear chance is swept away.
Let every sailor see his native shore,
And hold the ones he loves in peace once more.

[Verse 5]
I know the wound that made your spirit hard,
And how you stand forever on your guard.
Yet pain need not decide what we must do,
Nor claim the living souls who follow you.

[Verse 6]
The morning shines across the open sea,
And offers one last path for you and me.
I wait upon the answer you must give,
Turn us towards the shores where we may live.

[Chorus]
Turn the ship for home, while still we have the day,
Before the last clear chance is swept away.
Let every sailor see his native shore,
And hold the ones he loves in peace once more.

[Outro]
Your silence falls; I search your weathered face,
And find no promise in that quiet place.
But still I hold this fragile hope in view,
That one kind word may yet come forth from you.

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[The Scene] On the sunlit deck of the Pequod, Starbuck recognises a rare opportunity as Ahab reflects upon the wife, child and years of family life he has sacrificed to the sea. Encouraged by the captain’s unexpected vulnerability and his recent compassion towards Pip, Starbuck makes his most heartfelt appeal for the ship to turn towards home. He reminds Ahab that the crew have families waiting for them and that the years already lost need not determine those still to come. For a brief moment, the possibility of abandoning the hunt seems within reach. Yet Ahab offers no promise, and Starbuck’s fragile hope remains unanswered as the Pequod continues towards the final confrontation. [Verse 1] I saw the morning soften on your face, And heard the sorrow time could not erase. You spoke of those who wait beyond the foam, And for one breath I thought you longed for home. [Verse 2] Your wife has watched the years go drifting by, Your child has grown beneath a distant sky. Though lost years cannot answer when you call, The years to come need not be lost at all. [Chorus] Turn the ship for home, while still we have the day, Before the last clear chance is swept away. Let every sailor see his native shore, And hold the ones he loves in peace once more. [Verse 3] I see my wife beside our open door, And hear my child's small footsteps on the floor. I do not dream of glory from the deep, I dream of promises I mean to keep. [Verse 4] I saw you take young Pip's unsteady hand, And offer warmth where fear had made its stand. That kindness told me what your heart can be, More than the wound that binds you to the sea. [Chorus] Turn the ship for home, while still we have the day, Before the last clear chance is swept away. Let every sailor see his native shore, And hold the ones he loves in peace once more. [Verse 5] I know the wound that made your spirit hard, And how you stand forever on your guard. Yet pain need not decide what we must do, Nor claim the living souls who follow you. [Verse 6] The morning shines across the open sea, And offers one last path for you and me. I wait upon the answer you must give, Turn us towards the shores where we may live. [Chorus] Turn the ship for home, while still we have the day, Before the last clear chance is swept away. Let every sailor see his native shore, And hold the ones he loves in peace once more. [Outro] Your silence falls; I search your weathered face, And find no promise in that quiet place. But still I hold this fragile hope in view, That one kind word may yet come forth from you.

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