The Ship

I awoke in the dusts of an autumn morning Faces oil-lit kneeling round the family chairs I never knew that a heart could take such filling Spaces everywhere. And the ship comes ‘round And she's waiting at the harbour Be prepared to get on board, be prepared I never knew that the light of ages Breaks the way before us Sail away, sail away All the front doors opened and the men came walking Suits and shoes, heads of silver and grey It's one short road from a darkened cradle To the endless light of day. She walked like a bride down the aisle of her childhood The shops, the schoolyard, the church on the hill Where she trembled on the day She was touched and broken Marie was born again. And the ship comes ‘round And she's waiting at the harbour Be prepared to get on board, be prepared I never knew that the light of ages Breaks the way before us Sail away, sail away All ears to the trawler-band in the evenings Forty crans and the spirits run wild The storms, the drownings, the tables, the drinking The sea had claimed their lives. There's a peat smoke rising from the village chimneys You take your chances with the red haired girl All the boats take their rest in the heart of the harbour That night in a changing world. And the ship comes ‘round And she's waiting at the harbour Be prepared to get on board, be prepared I never knew that the light of ages Breaks the way before us Sail away, sail away --- The Ship - Runrig