The Captain
Now the captain called me to his bed
He fumbled for my hand
Take these silver bars, he said
Im giving you command.
Command of what, theres no one here
Theres only you and me --
All the rest are dead or in retreat
Or with the enemy.
Complain, complain, thats all youve done
Ever since we lost
If its not the crucifixion
Then its the holocaust.
May christ have mercy on your soul
For making such a joke
Amid these hearts that burn like coal
And the flesh that rose like smoke.
I know that you have suffered, lad,
But suffer this awhile:
Whatever makes a soldier sad
Will make a killer smile.
Im leaving, captain, I must go
Theres blood upon your hand
But tell me, captain, if you know
Of a decent place to stand.
There is no decent place to stand
In a massacre;
But if a woman take your hand
Go and stand with her.
I left a wife in tennessee
And a baby in saigon --
I risked my life, but not to hear
Some country-western song.
Ah but if you cannot raise your love
To a very high degree,
Then youre just the man Ive been thinking of --
So come and stand with me.
Your standing days are done, I cried,
Youll rally me no more.
I dont even know what side
We fought on, or what for.
Im on the side thats always lost
Against the side of heaven
Im on the side of snake-eyes tossed
Against the side of seven.
And Ive read the bill of human rights
And some of it was true
But there wasnt any burden left
So Im laying it on you.
Now the captain he was dying
But the captain wasnt hurt
The silver bars were in my hand
Pinned them to my shirt.
song performed by by Leonard Cohen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
Oh, My Captain
Oh, my Captain, my Captain
Where is that gleam in your eye?
Where is that sting
Whenever your colors fly?
Where is that thirst
for adventure you sail?
Where is that booming voice
Through oak will drive nail?
Oh, my Captain
Where could you be?
Thy gaze crosses
more than the sea
Where is the man
Who knows not any fears?
Who's cheated death
All these long years
Come Captain,
Where is thy cheer?
We sail into eternity
The rest is unclear
Oh Captain, oh Captain
Why such a sad soul?
It's treasure and loot
So much we have stole
Oh, master, my master
We are, and can no more be
Like the birds,
We are free as long as we breathe
Come Captain, my Captain
Give us command
Give 'weigh all the anchors'
Seek ye new harbors with warm golden sand
to Captain Cur
poem by Midnights Voice
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Law
How many times did you call me
And I knew it was late
I left everybody
But I never went straight
I dont claim to be guilty
But I do understand
Theres a law, theres an arm, theres a hand
Theres a law, theres an arm, theres a hand
Now my hearts like a blister
From doing what I do
If the moon has a sister
Its got to be you
Im going to miss you forever
Tho its not what I planned
Theres a law, theres an arm, theres a hand
Theres a law, theres an arm, theres a hand
Now the deal has been dirty
Since dirty began
Im not asking for mercy
Not from the man
You just dont ask for mercy
While youre still on the stand
Theres a law, theres an arm, theres a hand
Theres a law, theres an arm, theres a hand
I dont claim to be guilty
Guiltys too grand
Theres a law, theres an arm, theres a hand
Theres a law, theres an arm, theres a hand
Thats all I can say, baby
Thats all I can say
It wasnt for nothing
That they put me away
I fell with my angel
Down the chain of command
Theres a law, theres an arm, theres a hand
Theres a law, theres an arm, theres a hand
Theres a law, theres an arm, theres a hand
song performed by by Leonard Cohen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Patriot Returns
Battered and broken I return to you
My time spent in battle is finally through
My country served proudly, I stood the test
I fought side by side with our nations best
I am A soldier, A patriot, true to the cause
My American heart beats without pause
Any time any place any where
This soldier will stand tall and be there
I love my country and will protect her at all cost
I fight for the old, the young, the weak and the lost
I fight for an ideal that is greater than I
I don’t complain, or whine or ask why
But for the time being I am home with you
My duty served my task is thru
But I’ll be watching, over there and over here
And I’ll be putting a hand to my ear
For if ever this soldier is again called to fight
I’ll lace up my boots and do what’s right
Look out world the Devil Dogs are on hand
Ready to fight in the air, on the sea or on land
poem by James Waters
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The Jacket
Through the Plagues of Egyp' we was chasin' Arabi,
Gettin' down an' shovin' in the sun;
An' you might 'ave called us dirty, an' you might ha' called us dry,
An' you might 'ave 'eard us talkin' at the gun.
But the Captain 'ad 'is jacket, an' the jacket it was new --
('Orse Gunners, listen to my song!)
An' the wettin' of the jacket is the proper thing to do,
Nor we didn't keep 'im waitin' very long.
One day they gave us orders for to shell a sand redoubt,
Loadin' down the axle-arms with case;
But the Captain knew 'is dooty, an' he took the crackers out
An' he put some proper liquor in its place.
An' the Captain saw the shrapnel, which is six-an'-thirty clear.
('Orse Gunners, listen to my song!)
"Will you draw the weight," sez 'e, "or will you draw the beer?"
An' we didn't keep 'im waitin' very long.
~For the Captain, etc.~
Then we trotted gentle, not to break the bloomin' glass,
Though the Arabites 'ad all their ranges marked;
But we dursn't 'ardly gallop, for the most was bottled Bass,
An' we'd dreamed of it since we was disembarked:
So we fired economic with the shells we 'ad in 'and,
('Orse Gunners, listen to my song!)
But the beggars under cover 'ad the impidence to stand,
An' we couldn't keep 'em waitin' very long.
~And the Captain, etc.~
So we finished 'arf the liquor (an' the Captain took champagne),
An' the Arabites was shootin' all the while;
An' we left our wounded 'appy with the empties on the plain,
An' we used the bloomin' guns for pro-jec-tile!
We limbered up an' galloped -- there were nothin' else to do --
('Orse Gunners, listen to my song!)
An' the Battery came a-boundin' like a boundin' kangaroo,
But they didn't watch us comin' very long.
~As the Captain, etc.~
We was goin' most extended -- we was drivin' very fine,
An' the Arabites were loosin' 'igh an' wide,
Till the Captain took the glassy with a rattlin' right incline,
An' we dropped upon their 'eads the other side.
Then we give 'em quarter -- such as 'adn't up and cut,
('Orse Gunners, listen to my song!)
An' the Captain stood a limberful of fizzy -- somethin' Brutt,
But we didn't leave it fizzing very long.
~For the Captain, etc.~
We might ha' been court-martialled, but it all come out all right
When they signalled us to join the main command.
There was every round expended, there was every gunner tight,
An' the Captain waved a corkscrew in 'is 'and.
~But the Captain 'ad 'is jacket, etc.~
poem by Rudyard Kipling
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Captain Hook
Captain Hook must remember
Not to scratch his toes.
Captain Hook must watch out
And never pick his nose.
Captain Hook must be gentle
When he shakes your hand.
Captain Hook must be careful
Openin' sardine cans
And playing tag and pouring tea
And turnin' pages of his book.
Lots of folks I'm glad I ain't--
But mostly Captain Hook!
poem by Sheldon Allan Silverstein
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By your side
I stand watching you throw away your life
you are wearing a wedding ring
yet you have lost your wife
because you look around the room
and you cant find your pride
I stand by your side.
What do you have?
you say you have nothing
but you cant see what you have lost
and you say you will stop
but the drink is all you have got
you look around
and you cant find your pride
I stand by your side.
Your face is cut from a drunken fight
and every morning is a drunken night
the poison you persist must take your sight
leaving you with not one brain cell left
the alcohol has gone to your head
a park bench has become your bed.
I stand by your side unlike your health
but I cant help unless you help yourself
what do you have? Look.
See you cant find your pride.
Understand I cant stand by your side.
poem by Daniel McCann
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The Captain
Well I don't have as many friends because
I'm not as pretty as I was
I've kicked myself at times because I've lied
So I will have to learn to stand my ground
I'll tell 'em I won't be around
I'll move on over to your town and hide
And you be the Captain
And I'll be no-one
And you can carry me away if you want to
And you can lay low
Just like your father and if
I tread upon your feet you just say so
'Cos you're The Captain
song performed by by Kasey Chambers from The Captain
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Closer To Home / I'm Your Captain
Everybody listen to me
And return me my ship
I'm your captain
I'm your captain
Though I'm feeling mighty sick
I've been lost now for days uncounted
And it's months since I've seen home
Can you hear me? Can you hear me?
Or am I all alone?
If you return me to my home port
I will kiss you Mother Earth
Take me back now
Take me back now
To the port of my birth
(bridge)
Am I in my cabin dreaming?
Or are you really scheming
To take my ship away from me?
You'd better think about it
I just can't live without it
So please don't take my ship from me
I can feel the hand of a stranger
And it's tightening around my throat
Heaven help me
Heaven help me
Take this stranger from my boat
I'm your captain
I'm your captain
Though I'm feeling mighty sick
Everybody listen to me
And return me my ship
I'm your captain
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm your captain
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm your captain
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm your captain
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...
I'm getting closer to my home
I'm getting closer to my home
I'm getting closer to my home (repeat until fade).
song performed by by Grand Funk Railroad
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Im Your Captain
Everybody, listen to me,
And return me, my ship.
Im your captain, Im your captain,
Although Im feeling mighty sick.
Ive been lost now, days uncounted,
And its months since Ive seen home.
Can you hear me, can you hear me,
Or am I all alone.
If you return me, to my home port,
I will kiss you mother earth.
Take me back now, take me back now,
To the port of my birth.
Am I in my cabin dreaming, or are you really scheming,
To take my ship away from me?
Youd better think about it, I just cant live without it.
So, please dont take my ship from me.
Yeah, yeah, yeah ...
I can feel the hand, of a stranger,
And its tightening, around my throat.
Heaven help me, heaven help me,
Take this stranger from my boat.
Im your captain, Im your captain,
Although Im feeling mighty sick.
Everybody, listen to me,
And return me, my ship.
Im your captain, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Im your captain, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Im your captain, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Im your captain, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Im getting closer to my home ...
Im getting closer to my home ...
Im getting closer to my home ...
Im getting closer to my home ...
Ohhhh ...
Im getting closer to my home ...
Im getting closer to my home ...
Im getting closer to my home ...
Im getting closer to my home ...
Repeated to fade
song performed by by Grand Funk Railroad
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Captain To His Dear
Farewell to you my dear
Here, I see your smile with glare
On this deck, here I stand
About to sail far from land
Farewell to you my dear
The land is no more near
Waves are now very high
So dark now is the sky
Here is your captain lying
Above these waves arising
Below the dark skies falling
Now your captain's striving
Angrily, the tempest roar
And you captain's far from shore
But your captain keeps believing
Behind the clouds your smile is hiding
poem by Mark Joseph Canoy
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Heart To Heart
(Emmylouy HarrisPaul Kennerley)
Heart to heart we'll hold together
Hand in hand we'll find a way
Oh, the storms of life may blind us
But with the loving vows that bind us
Heart to heart hand in hand we'll stay
Side by side forever and always
Day by day till our lives are done
This sweet love is ours to treasure
Far beyond all time and measure
Side by side day by day as one
The years connot take what's between you and me
We'll stand her together for the whole world to see
Heart to heart there'll be no other
Hand in hand for our love is true
Oh, the words that we have spoken
Will be a promise never broken
Heart to heart hand in hand with you
song performed by by Emmylou Harris
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Closer To Home
I'm Your Captain
Grand Funk Railroad
Mark Farner
The tune that is remembered as "Closer To Home", is actually labeled "I'm
Your Captain" on both the album sleeve and record label. It is from the
album "Closer To Home", released by Grand Funk Railroad in June of 1970.
Everybody,
listen to me,
and return me, my ship.
I'm your captain, I'm your captain,
though I'm feeling mighty sick.
I've been lost now,
days uncounted,
and it's months since,
I've seen home.
Can you hear me, can you hear me,
or am I all alone?
If you return me,
to my home port,
I will kiss you,
mother earth.
Take me back now, take me back now,
to the port, of my birth.
Am I in my cabin dreaming,
or are you really scheming,
to take my ship away from me.
You'd better think about it,
I jsut can't live without it,
so please don't take my ship from me.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I can feel the hand,
of a stranger,
and it tightening,
around my throat.
Heaven help me, heaven help me,
take this stranger, from my boat.
I'm your captain, I'm your captain,
though I'm feeling mighty sick.
Everybody, listen to me,
and return me, my ship,
I'm your captain, yeah yeah yeah yeah
I'm your captain, yeah yeah yeah yeah
I'm your captain, yeah yeah yeah yeah
I'm your captain, yeah yeah yeah yeah
I'm getting closer to my home.
I'm getting closer to my home.
transcribed by Steve McClurg ([email protected])
song performed by by Grand Funk Railroad
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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We All Stand Together
Win or lose, sink or swim
One thing is certain well never give in
Side by side, hand in hand
We all stand together
Play the game, fight the fight
But whats the point on a beautiful night?
Arm in arm, hand in hand
We all stand together
La-
Keeping us warm in the night
La la la la
Walk in the night
Youll get it right
Repeat
Win or lose, sink or swim
One thing is certain well never give in
Side by side, hand in hand
We all stand together
song performed by by Paul McCartney
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Death without purpose
death for me I must embrace,
death for me, is a OK place,
For death waits for me with open arms,
For I have dealt death,
Death is now being dealt to me,
For I thought I had a Angel,
A savior,
The person who pick me up and gave me purpose,
A love I had thought I never imagined,
Now this is gone if you could only imagine,
You had my soul, now my soul is gone,
Who am I with out you? With out my soul?
With out you making me hole,
Now death is awaiting me with a smile,
No purpose, no love, no soul,
Life and death, death and life,
they stand side by side in the end,
For now death hands me its hand,
I don’t know who I am,
So death once again offers its hand,
Such a easy offer right at hand,
For its a easy answer,
For all I feel, death does seem the sure deal,
Sorrow, pain, heart ache, purposeless, loveless,
Hate for ones self, for all the things I have done,
This sure seems the answer,
Death looks at me with a glean in his eye,
He knows I am tempted to take the easy way out,
Is that such a terrible thing to have offered?
Do be tempted to take?
What else is there now left for me to take?
What else do I have to be taken now?
If this is the choice I make,
Don’t mourn for me for its to late,
Don t show me sympathy I have to shake,
Just let me go,
I choose this, not you, not your blame
Take my soul,
It is your, once always, and forever,
When the going gets rough,
Remember what I stood for,
For I can not stand for myself,
I can not take the this feeling I have inside,
I'm lost with out you by my side.
Will I be judged for the things I have done?
The sins I have committed?
Well in the end it really doesn't matter, now does it?
Now death is waiting patiently by my side,
Now as I lye here awake with a gentle shake,
I know what it is to have death on my side,
So now I say goodbye,
Death is taking me for a ride,
poem by John Pollock
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Closer To Home
(m&l - farner)
Everybody listen to me
And return me
My ship
Im your captain
Im your captain
No Im feeling mighty sick
Ive been lost now
Days uncounted
And its months since
Ive seen home
Can you hear me
Can you hear me
Oh am I all alone
If you return me
To my home port
I will kiss you
Mother earth
Take me back now
Take me back now
To the port
Of my birth
To the port
Of my birth
Am I in my cabin dreaming
Or are you really schemeing
To take my ship away from me?
You better think about it
I just cant live without it
So please dont take my ship from me
Yeah yeah yeah
I can feel the hand
Of the stranger
As its tightening
Around my throat
Heaven help me
Heaven help me
Take this stranger
From my boat
Im your captain
Im your captain
Though Im feeling mighty sick
Everybody listen to me
And return me my ship
Im your captain
Yeah yeah yeah, m getting closer to my home
song performed by by Helloween
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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0194 A Boy's Vision
The boy walks past the window;
you can see he's
got something clearly in his mind;
walks firmly on both feet as if
he walked on grass;
his carriage upright,
a half-smile on his face;
his eyes are bright;
he swings his hands from side to side
in front of him.
He has a vision.
Ah yes.
His captain's just tossed the ball to him;
it's his spell to bowl.
This is what he was born to do;
he has the skills;
he knows he can do it; can't wait; but
no hurry, as he's confident,
switching the ball from hand to hand,
warming it with his love.
The boy walks past the window.
He has a vision.
poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Heaven Meets Earth (in My Mind)
There is a place in my mind, where heaven meets earth
A place in my mind where love gives birth.
A love that’s put into our hearts from GOD above
And earths beauties, like a snow white dove.
Where the two can walk hand in hand
And against evil, they take their stand.
Love and beauty is what is shown
And in our minds, it is known.
Everything in life comes in twos
It is up to us what we use and choose
Heaven and earth, rich and poor,
Evil and good, male and female
This is the things that are real.
And if we use what the LORD provides
We can walk side by side.
It is not difficult to see
That this is the way GOD intended it to be.
The love between a man and a woman
As they walk hand in hand
Laughing, joking, and making plans.
Seeing children playing together.
You tell me! What can be better.
When an elderly couple can
still smile at each other
And acknowledge everyone
As their sister and brother.
The mind is truly where heaven meets earth
So let’s enjoy it all, and take it for what its worth.
poem by Louis Rams
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Tamp em Up Solid
(traditional)
Tamp em up solid, so they wont come down
Tamp em up solid, buddy, so they wont come down
Tamp em up solid, so they wont come down
Tamp em up solid, buddy, so they wont come down
Baby, when you marry your railroad man
Every dayll be pay day, dollar bill in your hand
Baby, in your hand, baby, in your hand
Baby, in your hand, baby, in your hand
Mary and the baby laying in the bed
Thinking about the money that I aint made
So tamp em up solid so they wont come down
Tamp em up solid, buddy, so they wont come down
Captain called the water boy and the water boy laughed
Captain kicked the water boy yelling, yes, yes, yes
So tamp em up solid, so they wont come down
Tamp em up solid, buddy, so they wont come down
And you can do it, and you can do it, and you can do it
So they wont come down
song performed by by Ry Cooder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Today... 'The Captain Of Salvation
My great Captain of Salvation and God
the rugged pathway to Calvary trod.
Where He died on that rugged wooden cross
and was made perfect through suffering loss.
To bring our Salvation He came to earth
born as the Son of God through virgin birth.
But He won that battle of Calvary
and laid down His life on that curséd tree.
The devils fear and fly at His approach
for He lived a life beyond all reproach.
All foes defeated with none left to stand
even the grave is under His command.
Salvation's Captain so victorious
and He has conquered death all glorious.
Every knee shall bow and tongue confess
His lordship and praise His supreme prowess.
From sin He was determined to abstain
and through righteousness became Captain.
Securing Salvation He came to save
defeating Satan, He rose from the grave.
The Captain of Salvation wears the crown
and all princes and leaders shall bow down
to the great Lord of lords and King of kings
For whom, by whom and through whom are all things.
(see also the additional information in the Poet's notes box below)
By Your Side
I wasn't myself for so many years it seemed
Cold and confused my mind lost in the shadows
When I awoke I could see so much clearer
Held high it seems I won't be there to hear her
And I won't be by your side
No way of knowing
And I won't be by your side
Well I'll take my chances
In this place I was left for dead
Held down and mocked by all eyes watching
Now free well I'll be standing much taller
What won't kill me makes me stronger
And I won't be by your side
No way of knowing
And I won't be your side
Well I'll take my chances
And I won't be by your side
I'm free from you chains
And I won't be by your side
There's no time to cry
song performed by by Default from Fallout
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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