[verse 1] He married a farmer and he did his share; Till, seed, weed and wait; it began to wear Water whispered his fate, the farm held barely a prayer For the sea's bright horizon promised mysteries out there He'd go, bring back gold, vowed he'd take great care "Beware!" she warned, "crossing'll damn you to roam" "If Death sees you, you'll never feel home" [pre-chorus] The world tree stretches its fingers towards the sun And never quite manages to reach Home again The one at sea alleges after this winter aboard he's done And never quite manages to reach Home again [chorus] Till the topsoil Burn your whale oil Don't let your sea legs spoil Yearning for her tempting roil The woman you adore, Though grief she foresaw, The reef promises you more When you return to its claws So let your sails uncoil Your sea demands your toil [verse 2] He dares sail past the island of the dead Tells the hair raising tale of how he held fast, never fled The sailor in spine-tingling dread Starts dreaming about the farmstead He finds himself on the land once more A week later wonders why he came back to shore [pre-chorus] The world tree grows long branches towards the sun Though its roots drink deep and long is the day Night again reigns The one at sea knows his long years aboard are done But never quite manages to say I'm home, amen [chorus] Till the topsoil Burn your whale oil Don't let your sea legs spoil Yearning for her tempting roil The woman you adore, Though grief she foresaw, The reef promises you more When you return to its claws So let your sails uncoil Your sea demands your toil [bridge] When the wind blows Again will he go Borne across the sea He sails at the break of dawn Once again her lad is gone E're his lady love Knows no gods above, Prays to Death below, Bring me no woe, Let him sail through, Let his wind blow true, "Come back to me, return him to me, I will give you my soul," promised she [chorus] Till the topsoil Burn your whale oil Don't let your sea legs spoil Yearning for her tempting roil Though now you farm, By the fire you warm, When Death saw your face, She levied a toll You ran from that place From her isle, she let you go So always your sails uncoil Your sea demands your toil [Outro] He never stays long enough to learn the dreadful cost For the legions he crossed, his wife's soul was lost She paid Death's price For his search for paradise Which he never quite manages to find No matter who he leaves behind [verse reprise] One fateful day he crosses the threshold Bearing great riches, treasures and gold He finds the homestead fire gone cold Though the price went untold, His wife fulfilled her oath In the end Death will welcome them both
