I am a young mariner headed to war

I'm thinkin' 'bout my family and what it was for

There's water on the wood and the sails feel good

And when I get to shore I hope that I can kill good



My father was a sailor named Captain Kennedy

He lost his wooden schooner to the Germans on the sea

Exploded on the water for everyone for everyone to see

And humiliate that American Captain Kennedy



I saw him in Nassau in 1971

His strength was failin' but he still ran a run

He worked 'til his fingers wore to the bone

To buy that wooden schooner and sail on his own



He was known in the islands as hundred foot iron

That steel hull freighter was passin' its time

And time flew by faster with life on the sea

And the days grew shorter for Captain Kennedy



I am a young mariner headed to war

I'm thinkin' 'bout my family and what it was for

There's water on the wood and the sails feel good

And when I get to shore I hope that I can kill good