I must go down to the seas again To the lonely sea and the sky And all I ask is a tall ship And a star to steer her by And the wheel's kick And the wind's song And the white sail's shaking And a grey mist on the sea's face And a grey dawn breaking I must go down to the seas again For the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call That may not be denied And all I ask is a windy day With the white clouds flying And the flung spray and the blown spume And the sea-gulls crying I must go down to the seas again To the vagrant gypsy life To the gull's way and the whale's way Where the wind's like a whetted knife And all I ask is a merry yarn From a laughing fellow-rover And quiet sleep and a sweet dream When the long trick's over