Ship In A Bottle

We sat in his living room staring at the fire

And watched as the sparks leapt from the grate, and the flames rose higher

It was hard for me to tell him it was time for me to leave

He said, "I didn't go see the world, I thought that it would come to me"

Pointing to the mantelpiece, he said, "Take that if you wish"

A dirty whisky jar that contained a wooden ship

"Your grandfather drained that bottle, and I put it to good use

Now it ties me to my yesterdays, I'd be better off to lose"

Chorus:

No use fighting when the wind's against the tide

Ship your oars, stow your sails, just enjoy the ride of your life

Or throw yourself on the mercy of the sea

Whatever you do, son, don't waste your time like me

He built it back in '33, just a young boy at the time

Back when the matchstick masts appeared to tower above the Clyde

Leaving school, real ships he built carried men and goods afar

To America and India, and in the '40s, to the war

His country didn't want him as his mates fell through wartorn skies

The rest, they joined the convoys, still he was too young to die

Now he can't even find his glasses, his hands shake too much, he knows

To break the bottle for himself and to let the memories go

(Chorus)

Sitting on the mantelpiece, the bottle's gathered dust

While shipyards closed, their gates were locked, the chains begin to rust

He was tied down to his memories, forever in their debt

But I'll sail for clear blue waters and a life with no regrets

(Chorus)