By: Jimmy Buffett

1975

I never used to miss the chance

To climb upon his knee

Listen to the many tales

Of life upon the sea



We'd go sailin' back on barkentines

An' talk of things he did

Tomorrow just a day away

For the captain and the kid



His world had gone from sailin' ships

To rakin' mom's backyard

He never could adjust to land

Although he tried so hard



We both were growin' older then

Wiser with our years

That's when I came to understand

The course his heart still steered



He died about a month ago

While winter filled the air

And though I cried I was so proud

To love a man so rare



He's somewhere on the ocean now

A place he outta be

With one hand on the starboard rail

He's wavin' back at me



I never used to miss the chance

To climb upon his knee

Listen to his many tales

Of life upon the sea



We'd go sailin' back on barkentines

Talk of things he did

The world was just a day away

For the captain and the kid



For the captain

And this kid