I heard a story about a boy, who was swept off the deck
the sweeping tide swept the sea over his neck
but it did not end there, the boy began to swim
and dared to the sea that dared to invade him

[Chorus:]

did you ever want to know me
did you ever feel like I could
it's a silent steeple that carries us down
it's a silent steeple

but the sea wouldn't so much as reply
so the boy swore to the ships that were fated to die
red sky at night, sailors take delight
red sky in the morning, sailors take warning
sail on, take it back, sail on, take it back, sail on, take it back

we were going with the wind in our hair
and we didn't want to look back 'cause if we did We would not care

and if we all were to die now
well it wouldn't be that bad
'cause the boy in the waves said he'd give us everything, everything he had
to go on and trace that scar, like we did ten years before

[Chorus]

sail on, take it back, sail on, take it back, sail on, take it back
sail on, take it back, sail on, take it back, sail on, take it back