A Love Letter To The Ocean Liner (1966)

Verse 1

Beneath the clock on Titanic's grand staircase

Ships like her are decorated with real beautiful woods

With four tall funnels against a charcoal sky

Watch the Edwardian world go by

The triple-screws begin to hum

The crossing has just only begun

Chorus

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

Oh, they're the Queens of the deep blue sea

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

Floatin' palaces made of real steel and wood

(Far far away, we're underway!)

Where the horizon meets the view of the sea

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

They’re the only stars that ever really shine

(Far far away, we're underway!)

Rollin' on home through the heavy swells

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

I can hear the engine telegraph bells in my sleep

(Far far away, we're underway!)

Yeah, they're the big ol' Queens of the deep blue sea!

Verse 2

Now the Art Deco lines start to lean and sway

Le Normandie is racin' through the Atlantic's spray

A floating city in a velvet gown

The fastest way to reach Manhattan town

No satellite, no jet-trail lace

Just the salt upon your face and mine

Chorus

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

Oh, they're the Queens of the deep blue sea

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

Floatin' palaces made of real steel and wood

(Far far away, we're underway!)

Where the horizon meets the view of the sea

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

They’re the only stars that ever really shine

(Far far away, we're underway!)

Rollin' on home through the heavy swells

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

I can hear the engine telegraph bells in my sleep

(Far far away, we're underway!)

Yeah, they're the big ol' Queens of the deep blue sea!

Verse 3

A final toast on the promenade of the S.S France

The QE2 is takin' one last chance

To keep the spirit of transatlantic crossings alive

While the world learns how to fly and dive and drive

But in my mind, they’re still out there

With the sea hitting up against their hulls

Chorus

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

Oh, they're the Queens of the deep blue sea

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

Floatin' palaces made of real steel and wood

(Far far away, we're underway!)

Where the horizon meets the view of the sea

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

They’re the only stars that ever really shine

(Far far away, we're underway!)

Rollin' on home through the heavy swells

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

I can hear the engine telegraph bells in my sleep

(Far far away, we're underway!)

Yeah, they're the big ol' Queens of the deep blue sea!

Bridge

The silver wings are drawin' on near

And the ocean feels a little more lonely this year

As these ships one by one are gone to the torch

It's up to us to preserve their legacy

But the ocean feels a little more lonely this year

So they're sadly mostly all gone..

Chorus

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

Oh, they're the Queens of the deep blue sea

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

Floatin' palaces made of real steel and wood

(Far far away, we're underway!)

Where the horizon meets the view of the sea

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

They’re the only stars that ever really shine

(Far far away, we're underway!)

Rollin' on home through the heavy swells

(Sail sail away, oh sail away, we're underway!)

I can hear the engine telegraph bells in my sleep

(Far far away, we're underway!)

Yeah, they're the big ol' Queens of the deep blue sea!

Outro

(Olympic... Aquitania...)

Steam and salt and the rollin' Atlantic tide

(United States... Oceanic.. Cedric.. Titanic...)

Let these maritime greats live on

(Still sailing... still sailing...)

Queen Mary

(Queen Elizabeth)

Carpathia

(Lusitania)

Britannic

(They're still sailin' true and free.)

Sailin' true and free..

Yeah.. Sailin' true and free..