Faded flags waved in icy wind
When his hand left my own
A cold parade marching to the docks
But I left my boy at home
"Please have pity on the sailors"
I asked the waves "have pity on the sailors"
Sing old women sing your songs
Let your voices sail on water
May they find a favourable wind
Sing old women sing
Leather hands sewing cotton sails
Oil heating on the stove
He went away as they all go 'way
As soon as they are grown
And outside the ocean is awake
The moon is rising and the ocean is awake
Sing old women sing your songs
Let your voices sail on water
May they find a favourable wind
Sing old women sing
My son kneels down by his bed at night
Outside the ocean cries
He'll go away as they all go 'way
There's ocean in his eyes
"Please have pity on the sailors"
Kneeling down he asks for pity on the sailors
I have buried no remains
The graveyard is empty
The ocean has plenty
What do I have left to show
But an empty bed
And a working stove
Sing old women sing your songs
Let your voices sail on water
May they find a favourable wind
Sing old women sing
Sing old women sing
Sing old women sing