Interpret:

Phil Ochs

Album:

Pleasures of the Harbor

And the ship sets the sail
They've lived the tales to carry to the shore
Straining at the oars or staring from the rail
And the sea bids farewell
She waves in swells and sends them on their way
Time has been her pay and time will have to tell 


Oh soon your sailing will be over
Come and take the pleasures of the harbor


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


Soon your sailing will be over
Come and take the pleasures of the harbor


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
Till the fingers draw the blinds
Sip of wine, the cigarette of doubt
The candle is blown out, the darkness is so kind


Oh soon your sailing will be over
Come and take the pleasures of the harbor


And the shadows frame the light, same old sight 
Thrill has blown away
Now all alone they lay, two strangers in the night
Till 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


Oh soon your sailing will be over
Come and take the pleasures of the harbor


In the bar hangs a cloud, the whiskey's loud
There's laughter in their eyes
The lonely in disguse 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


Oh soon your sailing will be over
Come and take the pleasures of the harbor


In the alley, wet with rain, cry of pain
For love was but a smile
Teasing all the while, now dancing down the drain
Till the boys reach the dock, they gently mock
And lift him on their backs, lay him on his rack
And leave beneath the light


Oh soon your sailing will be over
Come and take the pleasures of the harbor


And the ship sets the sail
They've lived the tales to carry from the shore
Straining at the oars or staring from the rail
And the sea bids farewell
She waves in swells and sends them on their way
Time has been her pay and time will have to tell 


Oh soon your sailing will be over
Come and take the pleasures of the harbor