December morning when the ship came sailing in,

The sailor boys with all their noise had come around again

She stood on the quayside, she was looking for a friend

he had caught her eye and now she'll try

to make him come her way (come her way)

So long, goodbye, nice to know you baby but it's time to fly,

he laughed as she cried and watched her dreams sail away.

Had one just like her on a far off Eastern shore,

and every town, that he'd sailed round was like the one before

and thought he said he loved her, his words were like his heart

they were empty as a summer stream that dries up oh so hard

(oh so hard)

[chorus:]

Sail away, sail away

Sail away, sail away

Oh sail away again, away again

Every day somebody sails away,

Cried when he heft her, but she never knew his name,

Just a night of love to pass like ships and never meet again

She can't hold the tears, but she knows that one day

he will come around (come around again)

[chorus]