When the Ship Comes In

[TomInTib]

Just as true now as it was then.
Thank you, Mr Zimmerman..

Oh the time will come up
When the winds will stop
And the breeze will cease to be breathin'.
Like the stillness in the wind
'Fore the hurricane begins,
The hour when the ship comes in.

Oh the seas will split
And the ship will hit
And the sands on the shoreline will be shaking.
Then the tide will sound
And the wind will pound
And the morning will be breaking.

Oh the fishes will laugh
As they swim out of the path
And the seagulls they'll be smiling.
And the rocks on the sand
Will proudly stand,
The hour that the ship comes in.

And the words that are used
For to get the ship confused
Will not be understood as they're spoken.
For the chains of the sea
Will have busted in the night
And will be buried at the bottom of the ocean.

A song will lift
As the mainsail shifts
And the boat drifts on to the shoreline.
And the sun will respect
Every face on the deck,
The hour that the ship comes in.

Then the sands will roll
Out a carpet of gold
For your weary toes to be a-touchin'.
And the ship's wise men
Will remind you once again
That the whole wide world is watchin'.

Oh the foes will rise
With the sleep still in their eyes
And they'll jerk from their beds and think they're dreamin'.
But they'll pinch themselves and squeal
And know that it's for real,
The hour when the ship comes in.

Then they'll raise their hands,
Sayin' we'll meet all your demands,
But we'll shout from the bow your days are numbered.
And like Pharaoh's tribe,
They'll be drownded in the tide,
And like Goliath, they'll be conquered.

Copyright © 1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music

[HuskerDU]

1. I kid you not that I was just thinking about that song earlier today!

Oh the foes will rise with the sleep still in their eyes and they'll jerk from their beds and think they're dreamin'

[TomInTib]

5. I think about it and play it every day.

Makes me feel so good and righteous.

And, I have to admit, I do a good job of it.

[HuskerDU]

2. I alwyays thought that was one of the most positive songs ever.

Plus it is my very favorite Dylan tune and I lovey Bobby D!

[kentuck]

3. Great song by the poet of our generation.

Too bad his greatness will not be realized until he is gone from us...

[existentialist]

4. Mr. Zimmerman's works

I kid you not; I'm listening to the 1964 Halloween Night Concert as I read your post and write this response.

[TomInTib]

6. Small world, ain't it?

some things are just cosmic.

[OneBlueSky]

7. I recently noticed that I have more Bob Dylan CDs than those of . . .

any other artist -- by far . . .

and this happens to be one of my all-time favorite songs . . . just stunning, both lyrically and musically . . .