Harry Chapin - Salt and Pepper lyrics

The old sailor sat at the window seat
So he could watch as the ships went by
And he drank from a glass
That was always filled
For the rest of us would buy
And he would tell us tales
About the ships that sailed
When he was young and strong
And when he thought we'd heard
Enough of his words
He'd break into this song
Dee dee dee, dah dah dah
Dah dah dee dee dee dah
Dah dah dee dee dee dee duh

Each and every day he'd spend his way
Up to the stroke of four
Then a woman as rough as a dockside tough
Came bursting through the door
She'd stalk up to that sailor
And he'd shrink to the size of a pin
She'd curse and shout and as
She hauled him out
He'd say with a sheepish grin

Oh yes, I've sailed the southern oceans
And the stormy northern sea
But now that me sailing's over, me boys
It's harbor time for me
I know you call us Salt and Pepper
For an old salt I may be
But though she may be pepper to you, me boys
She's sweet as sugar to me
Dee dee dee, dah dah dah
Dah dah dee dee dee dah
Dah dah dee dee dee dee duh

Yes, we called them Salt and Pepper
For that's the way she was
And it seemed she got as least as hot
As fresh red pepper does
And a bunch of the boys made offers
To protect him from her wrath
But each and every time, he would decline
Declaring with a laugh

He said, I've sailed the southern oceans
And the stormy northern sea
But now that me sailing's over, me boys
It's harbor time for me
I know you call us Salt and Pepper
For an old salt I may be
But though she may be pepper to you, me boys
She's sweet as sugar to me
Dee dee dee, dah dah dah
Dah dah dee dee dee dah
Dah dah dee dee dee dee duh

I've had my body broken
Not drowned, but parched bone-dry
I've heard my name be spoken
I've spit in the devil's eye
The sea once was my mistress
Now Pepper's replaced her
But just another captain
Like my tough old captains were

And you can have your milquetoast ladies
I'm made of old salt brine
And the gal you saw had starch in her craw
Not a lace instead of a spine
Sure, the old girl can get tough at times
But a sailor's what I've been
And when a storm's about
You learn to ride it out
So you can sail once again

Oh yes, I've sailed the southern oceans
And the stormy northern sea
But now that me sailing's over, me boys
It's harbor time for me
I know you call us Salt and Pepper
For an old salt I may be
But though she may be pepper to you, me boys
She's sweet as sugar to me
Dee dee dee, dah dah dah
Dah dah dee dee dee dah
Dah dah dee dee dee dee duh
Dee dee dee, dah dah dah
Dah dah dee dee dee dah
Dah dah dee dee dee dee duh