By: Jimmy Buffett
1975
I never used to miss the chance
To climb upon his knee
Listen to the many tales
Of life upon the sea
We'd go sailin' back on barkentines
An' talk of things he did
Tomorrow just a day away
For the captain and the kid
His world had gone from sailin' ships
To rakin' mom's backyard
He never could adjust to land
Although he tried so hard
We both were growin' older then
Wiser with our years
That's when I came to understand
The course his heart still steered
He died about a month ago
While winter filled the air
And though I cried I was so proud
To love a man so rare
He's somewhere on the ocean now
A place he outta be
With one hand on the starboard rail
He's wavin' back at me
I never used to miss the chance
To climb upon his knee
Listen to his many tales
Of life upon the sea
We'd go sailin' back on barkentines
Talk of things he did
The world was just a day away
For the captain and the kid
For the captain
And this kid