[Irish Instrumental Intro] [Verse 1] There once set sail from Bristol Bay A battered ship in weathered gray, Her mast leaned hard, her sails were torn, But still she chased the rising morn. The captain swore by wind and foam, “There’s fortune waits where the wild seas roam,” So off we went with hopeful souls, To hunt the tide that paid in gold. [Chorus] Oh, the tide will pay us gold one day, Heave and haul and sail away, Hold the line and don’t let go, The tide will pay us gold — ho! [Verse 2] For forty days the wind blew wrong, The nights were cold, the weeks were long, The cook ran dry of rum and cheer, And doubt crept in with every year. But then one cry from the crow’s nest rang, A shout that made the rigging clang, “Rich waters lie dead ahead!” And hope returned where fear had spread. [Chorus] Oh, the tide will pay us gold one day, Heave and haul and sail away, Hold the line and don’t let go, The tide will pay us gold — ho! [Verse 3] The waves rose high and the storm did roar, Like none our weary ship had known before, We fought the gale through foam and night, With frozen hands and stubborn might. At dawn the sea lay calm and wide, The treasure ships sailed by our side, And laughter rolled across the foam — Enough to carry every man home. [Bridge] Sing it loud so the wind may hear, Songs of hope through doubt and fear, For every storm that blocks our way, Brings brighter skies another day! [Long Instrumental Break] [Final Chorus] Oh, the tide will pay us gold one day, Heave and haul and sail away, Hold the line and don’t let go, The tide will pay us gold — ho! Heave away and bend the sail, Fortune rides the ocean gale, Sing it strong and voices bold, The tide will pay us gold — ho! [Outro] So raise your mugs when ports appear, For brotherhood that brought us here, And when the sea begins to call… We’ll sail again — one and all. [Instrumental plays as the song ends]
