Equal Strain On All Parts

All those little things that my grandfather said
Not so little now, here in my grown-up head
I didn't always see the wisdom at the time
But I'm older now

Right after lunch and a Café Royale, he'd take his combat nap
And slip away to God knows where, beneath his weathered cap
And doze off with that parlance I came to understand

Equal strain on all parts
Son, whatever course you set
It'll ease the pain on backs and brains and hearts
It's a solid thing to wish for
It's the wrong thing to forget
Lying in this hammock now
It sure feels good to get
An equal strain on all parts

It works on land, works at sea, for creatures big and small
Cooling down our cylinders, living's a long haul
Jokes and songs and traveling
They lift the fog

Words from a new fie cabin boy still steer me near and far
And I'll pass them on in poems and songs before I cross the bar
It's worth a little time and space to understand

Equal strain on all parts
Whatever course you set
It'll ease the pain on backs and brains and hearts
It's a solid thing to wish for
It's the wrong thing to forget
Lying in this hammock now
It sure feels good to get
An equal strain on all parts