Jethro Tull Flying Dutchman

Old lady with a barrow, life near ending
Standing by the harbour wall, warm wishes sending
Children on the cold sea swell--not fishers of men--
Gone to chase away the last herring; come empty home again.

So come all you lovers of the good life
On your supermarket run
Set a sail of your own devising
And be there when the Dutchman comes.
You'd better be there when the Dutchman comes.

Wee girl in a straw hat, from far east warring
Sad cargo of an old ship, young bodies whoring
Slow ocean hobo, ports closed to her crew
No hope of immigration--keep on passing through.

So come all you lovers of the good life
Your children playing in the sun
Set a sympathetic flag a-flying
Oh and be there when the Dutchman comes.
You'd better be there when the Dutchman comes.

Death grinning like a scarecrow, flying Dutchman
Seagull pilots flown from nowhere--try and touch one
As she slips in on the full tide, and the harbour-master yells
All hands vanished with the captain--no-one left, the tale to tell.

So come all you lovers of the good life.
Look around you; can you see?
Staring ghostly in the mirror,
It's the Dutchman you will be
Floating slowly out to sea
In a misty misery.