The Ship - Intellectual

[Verse 1]

I awoke in the dust of an autumn morning

Faces oil-lit and kneeling 'round the family chairs

I never knew that a heart could take such filling

Spaces everywhere, 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 away 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 the 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

Mhairi 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 away 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 peat smoke rising from the village chimneys

You take your chance 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 away before us

Sail away, sail away

Sail away