Phil Ochs — Pleasures of the Harbor

[Verse 1] And the ship sets the sail They've lived the tales To carry to the shore Straining at the oars Or staring from the rails And the sea bids farewell She waves and swells And sends them on their way Time has been her pay And time will have to tell [Chorus] Oh, soon your sailing will be over Come and take the pleasures of the harbor [Verse 2] And the anchor hits the sand The hungry hands Have tied them to the port The hour will be short For leisure on the land And the girls scent the air They seem so fair With paint upon their face Soft is their embrace To lead them up the stairs [Chorus] Soon your sailing will be over Come and take the pleasures of the harbor [Verse 3] In the room dark and dim Touch of skin He asks her of her name She answers with no shame And not a sense of sin 'Til the fingers draw the blind Sip of wine The cigarette of doubt The candle is blown out The darkness is so kind [Chorus] Oh, soon your sailing will be over Come and take the pleasures of the harbor [Verse 4] And the shadows frame the light Same old sight Thrill has blown away All alone they lay Two strangers in the night 'Til his heart skips a beat He's on his feet To shipmates he must join She's counting up the coins He's swallowed by the street [Chorus] Oh, soon your sailing will be over Come and take the pleasures of the harbor [Verse 5] In the bar hangs a cloud The whiskey's loud There's laughter in their eyes The lonely in disguise Are clinging to the crowd And the bottle fills the glass The haze is fast He's trembling for the taste Of passion gone to waste In memories of the past [Chorus] Oh, soon your sailing will be over Come and take the pleasures of the harbor [Verse 6] In the alley wet with rain Cry of pain For love was but a smile Teasing all the while Now dancing down the drain 'Til the boys reach the dock They gently mock And lift him on their backs Lay him on his rack And leave beneath the light [Chorus] Oh, soon your sailing will be over Come and take the pleasures of the harbor [Verse 7] And the ship sets the sail They've lived the tales To carry from the shore Straining at the oars Or staring from the rails And the sea bids farewell She waves and swells And sends them on their way Time has been her pay And time will have to tell [Chorus] Oh, soon your sailing will be over Come and take the pleasures of the harbor