Will he have gifts for me
Like a stack of sweet sardines
Right out the hand
Howling at him from across the jetty
For I could recognise his boat a hundred miles away
His basket seems so empty
Another grim season it's been
And he seems tired for he rubs his eyes
And he pats my back to calm me
My master is back from the open seas
And I run like the wind to greet him
But he's down on his knees
He hasn't got a gift for me but
It's not the fish that I want
Just my master back on land with me
He'll be half-blind from the heavy sun
Have to double check it's me his only child
I'll know it's him from the crooked back
And that ever twisting brow under his tilted cap
I've been pacing in the harbour
I can sense those old boots getting near
I've been barking at those taunting waves
To make stubborn days crawl the quicker
My masters back from the open seas
I run like the wind to greet him
But he's down on his knees
He didn't catch a fish for me
It's not the fish that I want
Just my master back home with me
The ocean's running empty
That's the rumour spread all round the port
I'm not worried for I'll beg some scraps
From the kids drinking beers on the docks
My master is back from the empty seas
And I run like the wind to greet him
But he's down on his knees
Hangs his head
He can't look at me
But there's nothing that beats
Having master back on land with me