Sierra Leone

verse 1 I found an old letter caught under a stone By the sea in the lee of the cliffs, all alone Its pages were tattered from where it had blown To land from the hand of a sailor, unknown There by the coast of Sierra Leone verse 2 "Dear Friend", it read, "I have missed you, you know When you walked and you talked with me so long ago I shoved you aside as I rushed to and fro Friend, my old friend, who never let go" Friend, my old friend, who looked out for me Through squalls and long hauls, while I sailed the sea I need your watchful eye at the prow I know that you know, I’m kneeling here now Interlude: verse 3 My ship hugs the rocks, and the gale’s my back door Lashing and smashing and waging its war My crew man the lifeboat, please see them ashore All told, it won’t hold even one person more Here by Sierra Leone’s rocky floor verse 4 Forgive my neglect, old friend, it was my loss I wait for my fate as the ship starts to toss I feel the cold waters, I see the dark moss Will I sail through this gale or to heaven on a cross? Chorus Friend, my old friend, who looked out for me Through squalls and long hauls, while I sailed the sea I’ll take the wheel if you’ll ride the bow You know that I know, you’re standing here now Interlude Verse 5 As I stood on the rocks of Sierra Leone By the sea, the blue sea of Sierra Leone Close by the spot where the letter had blown And thought for naught of the sailor, unknown There by the coast of Sierra Leone Verse 6 Then I saw old letters carved into the stone By the sea, the blue sea of Sierra Leone 'Thank you, old Friend', just those words, alone Carved there like a prayer by a sailor, unknown Here on the coast of Sierra Leone Here by the hand of a sailor, unknown