sailing home for christmas

they looked out their windows at the ocean that surrounds them

in the service of their country

sailing to a foreign shore

tomorrow will be christmas

and they wish that they could be home

their wives and children need them

but their country needs them more

but they'll be sailing home for christmas

sailing home for christmas

where a welcome candle in the window gleams

they'll be sailing home for christmas

sailing home for christmas

sailing home for christmas in their dreams

tomorrow

they'll serve turkey and they'll sing the christmas carols

they'll talk about their families

their mothers and their sons

it's the strangest contradiction

singing songs of peace and sharing

as they man the battle stations

hoping war will never come

but they'll be sailing home for christmas

sailing home for christmas

where a welcome candle in the window gleams

they'll be sailing home for christmas

sailing home for christmas

sailing home for christmas in their dreams

and maybe someday they won't have to be there anymore

when we all start to live the things we have christmas for

they'll be sailing home for christmas

sailing home for christmas

where a welcome candle in the window gleams

they'll be sailing home for christmas

sailing home for christmas

sailing home for christmas in their dreams