when the ship comes in

oh the time will come up

when the winds will stop

and the breeze will cease to be a'breathin'

like the stillness in the wind

before the hurricane begins

the hour when the ship comes in

and the sea will split

and the ship will hit

and the shoreline sands will be a'shakin'

and the tide will sound

and the waves will pound

and the morning will be breakin'

oh the fishes will laugh

as they swim out of the path

and the seagulls will be a'smilin'

and the rocks on the sand

will proudly stand

the hour that the ship comes in

and the words that are used

for to get the ship confused

will not be understood as they're spoken

for the chains of the sea

will have busted in the night

and be buried at the bottom of the ocean

a song will lift

as the mainsail shifts

and the boat drifts out to the shoreline

and the sun will respect

every face on the deck

the hour that the ship comes in

and the sands will roll

out a carpet of gold

for your weary toes to be a'touchin'

and the ship's wise men

will remind you once again

that the whole wide world is watchin'

oh the foe will rise

with the sleep still in their eyes

and they'll jerk from their beds and think they're dreamin'

and they'll pinch themselves and squeal

and they'll know that it's for real

the hour when the ship comes in

and they'll raise their hands

sayin' we'll meet all your demands"