The Scorpion Departs, But Never Returns - Phil Ochs

Sailors climb the tree, up the terrible tree

Where are my shipmates have they sunk beneath the sea?

I do not know much, but I know this cannot be

It isn’t really, it isn’t really

Tell me it isn’t really

Sounding bell is diving down the water green

Not a trace, not a toothbrush, not a cigarette was seen

Bubble ball is rising from a whisper or a scream

But I’m not screaming, no I’m not screaming

Tell me I’m not screaming

Captain will not say how long we must remain

The phantom ship forever sail the sea

It’s all the same

Captain my dear Captain we’re staying down so long

I have been a good man, I’ve done nobody wrong

Have we left our ladies for the lyrics of a song?

That I’m not singing, I’m not singing

Tell me I’m not singing

The schooner ship is sliding across the kitchen sink

My son and my daughter they won’t know what to think

The crew has turned to voting and the officers to drink

But I’m not drinking, no I’m not drinking

Tell me I’m not drinking

Captain will not say how long we must remain

The phantom ship forever sail the sea

It’s all the same

The radio is begging them to come back to the shore

All will be forgiven, it’ll be just like before

All you’ve ever wanted will be waiting by your door

We will forgive you, we will forgive you

Tell me we will forgive you

But no one gives an answer not even one goodbye

Oh, the silence of their sinking is all that they reply

Some have chosen to decay and other chose to die

But I’m not dying, no I’m not dying

Tell me I’m not dying

Captain will not say how long we must remain

The phantom ship forever sail the sea

It’s all the same