Ship In A Bottle – Back Of The Moon – letras

We sat in his living room staring at the fireAnd watched as the sparks leapt from the grate, and the flames rose higherIt was hard for me to tell him it was time for me to leaveHe 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 useNow it ties me to my yesterdays, I’d be better off to lose »Chorus:No use fighting when the wind’s against the tideShip your oars, stow your sails, just enjoy the ride of your lifeOr throw yourself on the mercy of the seaWhatever you do, son, don’t waste your time like meHe built it back in ’33, just a young boy at the timeBack when the matchstick masts appeared to tower above the ClydeLeaving school, real ships he built carried men and goods afarTo America and India, and in the ’40s, to the warHis country didn’t want him as his mates fell through wartorn skiesThe rest, they joined the convoys, still he was too young to dieNow he can’t even find his glasses, his hands shake too much, he knowsTo break the bottle for himself and to let the memories go(Chorus)Sitting on the mantelpiece, the bottle’s gathered dustWhile shipyards closed, their gates were locked, the chains begin to rustHe was tied down to his memories, forever in their debtBut I’ll sail for clear blue waters and a life with no regrets(Chorus)