I was just a boy when I first stepped off the land
The vessel shivered loosely when the sailors took my hand
To ol' Sue I cried my darling, "I'll be back again some day."
But the restless waters stole my words away
Eighteen years aboard, it's been eighteen years aboard
Loyal to my captain but I can barely wait no more
And all the boys are singing songs about the day we'll reach the shore
But I'm sailing through the dark forever more
The sailors shared their stories and their dirty secrets too
They gave me a new name in their old skeleton crew
I became Bad Dan under pints of ocean spray
My eyes and mouth ridden with decay
Eighteen years aboard, it's been eighteen years aboard
Loyal to my whiskey 'til I can't see straight no more
And all the boys are singing songs about the day we'll reach the shore
But I'm sailing through the dark forever more
We were almost home when the vessel sprung a leak
The captain stood and smiled with the water to his knees
And the sailors cried, "Oh Lord! Please don't take my life away!"
But the turning gail lead their prayers astray
Eighteen years aboard, we've been eighteen years aboard
Loyal to the sea 'cause there ain't no Lord
Tell ol' Sue to look on past the darkness of the shore
Where I'm sailing towards the light forever more
I was just a boy when I first stepped off the land
I was just a boy when I first stepped off the land
I was just a boy when I first stepped off the land
Now I'm sailing towards the light forever more