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.