The skipper had a stiff one, filled a flask for the road
Glanced out at the sunset alighting on the shore
Took him back to the Suez and the Gulf of Mexico
Sailed through the memories from a lifetime before
So he took to the channel with a crew of three
Kapitän was a lifer, known to go by feel
She was big and muscly, along the Reiherstieg
He hadn't seen her coming, she was full of gasoline
Sing... of the Elbe's soul, across her rugged skin
How a sailor's heart can't be reeled in
And one fine day that ship be gone again
A fortnight later they called him in
Superintendant said Reiner, won't be warning you again
Carrying his new orders, held his chin up high
Back in his quarters, he hung his head to cry
Couldn't sleep for the nightmares, everything was out of place
Couldn't get out on the water, feel the wind on his face
Dozing off in retraining he heard his grandad cuss
Son, this world is a changing... gotta do what you must
Sing... of the Elbe's soul, across her rugged skin
How a sailor's heart can't be reeled in
And one fine day that ship be gone again
The moon was on the water, night shift had gone home
Slipped the rope from the capstan, let her out into the flow
Cap'n stared into the darkness with eyes black as coal
Drifted under the searchlights and killed the radio...
Sing... of the Elbe's soul, across her rugged skin
How a sailor's heart can't be reeled in
And one fine day that ship be gone...
Sing... of the Elbe's soul, across her rugged skin
How a sailor's heart can't be reeled in
And one fine day that ship be gone again