Chesapeake Narrows

Been gone four months 'round the North Atlantic
Haulin' drills and lathes packed in plywood crates
When the gale winds shriek we scramble down below
When the tables tilt we have to catch our plates

The salt wind turned my skin to leather
My beard grew out till it turned and curled
I got favorite bars all around the globe
But just one home in this whole damn world

A tugboat whistles a lonely gull cries
The Chesapeake Narrows city towers rise
Many seas I've sailed many ports I've roamed
But I never can get lost for Baltimore is my home

Docked in Glasgow the ship unloaded
Cranes took the crates whiskey took the men
I felt so alone till I met Margaret
She said she'd be my temporary friend

Had a good time playing bedtime
Till we heard her man singing in the street
He came through the front I left by the back
Running through the snow in my stocking feet

A tugboat whistles a lonely gull cries
The Chesapeake Narrows city towers rise
Many seas I've sailed many ports I've roamed
But I never can get lost for Baltimore is my home

When my feet start itchin' and my nose starts twitchin'
I know I should be back on the open sea
Harbor swimmin' and foreign women
The sailor's life is the life for me

Down in Marseilles I did some gamblin'
I won more francs than a Yankee should
I caught a knife but I threw it back
Ran for the boat as fast as I could

We took on sugar in Jamaica
Took out our guitars and tap dance shoes
Found a street band in Kingston's ghetto
We sang reggae and Baltimore blues

A tugboat whistles a lonely gull cries
The Chesapeake Narrows city towers rise
Many seas I've sailed many ports I've roamed
But I never can get lost for Baltimore is my home

Every vessel must have it's anchor
Or it gets lost between the rocks and foam
Every compass must have it's magnet
And Baltimore is pulling me back home

When we reached Norfolk were nearly home
Music and perfume were all along the shore
I was so tired of the unfamiliar
I stayed on deck and sang of Baltimore

Turned up the Bay and I saw Maryland
That Chesapeake shore I know so well
My family waits on that Mobtown pier
There's time to kill and tales to tell

A tugboat whistles a lonely gull cries
The Chesapeake Narrows city towers rise
Many seas I've sailed many ports I've roamed
But I never can get lost for Baltimore is my home