Men They Couldn't Hang Dover Lights
Waiting for morning on the ferry boat deck 5 miles out of Calais Tired and cold and wet to the skin watching the waves and the spray Ten years have gone by like the roll of the tide since I signed for the merchant marine Now all I want is dry land and a home in a country that I've rarely seen Home, hurry home To valleys green And cliffs so tall and so white Home, hurry home I can see the lights of Dover through the night Teachers of England instructed me well, strength comes from iron and fire Freedom was won from the barrel of a gun, law comes from palace and spire I carried the wealth of this land 'cross the sea till the ships and the cargoes grew slack Now many Jack Tar is washed up in a bar and many ships will never come back The ship's bar is closed, there's a gang of fifteen talking of flags and of blood Drunken with fighting the face of John Bull stands for violence, England and God Did I dream of a homeland so distantly remembered Of warmth, work, welfare, peace for all?
