Hoist a Ripping Sail

My ship is sitting on the silver sea
Not far from where I think I ought to be
A wind comes up to carry me
A strong and chilling gale
And when at last
The wind has past
I hoist a ripping sail

I live and breathe the sting of salty air
Sun and sea surround me everywhere
My body burns but I don't care
I feel so weak and pale
I try to stand
To search for land
Instead I hoist a ripping sail

I could float forever on this sea
Going wherever the tide carries me
That's not the way a man's supposed to be
If I don't try I'm sure to fail
And so I hoist a ripping sail

My endless journey's end has just begun
I live among a mutiny of one
Argue with the setting sun to no avail
And when the night
Removes my sight
I hoist a ripping sail

Waves attack and crash upon the deck
My battered ship becomes a sinking wreck
I cling to driftwood floating by
The sea won't be my jail
If I must die
At least I'll try
To hoist a ripping sail

I won't float forever on this sea
I'll drift to where dry land will shelter me
If that's the way I want my life to be
But if I don't try I'm sure to fail

I met a man on land the other day
He said to me, "I think I've lost my way"
I said to him, "Don't worry friend
Have faith and you'll prevail
Every problem has an end
Just hoist your ripping sail"