The Old Figurehead Carver

E A A I have done my bit of carving Bm Figureheads of quaint design E For the Olives and the Ruddocks D A And the famous Black Ball Line G A Brigantines and barques and clippers D Bm Brigs and schooners, lithe and tall E But the bounding Marco Polo D A Was the proudest of them all G A And while my hand is steady D Bm While my eyes are good E I will carve the music D A E Of the wind into the wood A I can see that white-winged clipper Bm Reeling under scudding clouds E Tramping down a hazy skyline D A With a Norther in her shrouds G A I can feel her lines of beauty D Bm See her flecked with spume and brine E As she drives her scuppers under D A And that figurehead of mine G A And while my hand is steady D Bm While my eyes are good E I will carve the music D A E Of the wind into the wood A 'Twas of seasoned pine I made it Bm Clear from outer bark to core E And the finest piece of timber D A From the mast-pond on Straight Shore G A Every bite of axe or chisel D Bm Every ringing mallet welt E Brought from out that piece of timber D A All the spirit that I felt G A And while my hand is steady D Bm While my eyes are good E I will carve the music D A E Of the wind into the wood A I had read of Marco Polo Bm Till his daring deeds were mine E And I saw them all a-glowing D A In that balsam-scented pine G A Saw his eyes alight with purpose D Bm Facing every vagrant breeze E Saw him lifting, free and careless D A Over all the Seven Seas G A And while my hand is steady D Bm While my eyes are good E I will carve the music D A E Of the wind into the wood A That was how I did my carving Bm Beat of heart and stroke of hand E Blended into life and action D A All the purpose that I planned G A Flowing robes and wind-tossed tresses D Bm Forms of beauty, strength, design E Saw them all, and strove to carve them D A In those figureheads of mine G A And while my hand is steady D Bm While my eyes are good E I will carve the music D A E D A Of the wind into the wood A I am old, my hands are feeble Bm And my outward eyes are dim E But I see again those clippers D A Lifting o'er the ocean's rim G A Great white fleet of reeling rovers D Bm Wind above, the surf beneath E And the Marco Polo leading D A With my carving in her teeth G A And while my hand is steady D Bm While my eyes are good E I will carve the music D A Of the wind into the wood G A And while my hand is steady D Bm While my eyes are good E I will carve the music D A E A Of the wind into the wood