I am a young mariner headed to war
I'm thinkin' 'bout my family
    and what it was for
There's water on the wood
    and the sails feel good
And when I get to shore
    I hope that I can kill good.

My father was a sailor
    named Captain Kennedy
He lost his wooden schooner
    to the Germans on the sea
Exploded on the water
    for everyone to see
And humiliate that American
    Captain Kennedy.

I saw him in Nassau in 1971
His strength was failin'
    but he still ran a run
He worked 'til his fingers
    wore to the bone
To buy that wooden schooner
    and sail on his own.

He was known in the islands
    as hundred foot iron
That steel hull freighter
    was passin' its time
And time flew by faster
    with life on the sea
And the days grew shorter
    for Captain Kennedy.

I am a young mariner headed to war
I'm thinkin' 'bout my family
    and what it was for
There's water on the wood
    and the sails feel good
And when I get to shore
    I hope that I can kill good.