Wayward Child (Jansch Bert)

There lay a dying sailor weeping So far he'd wandered from the south, As he lay upon the burning sand The children gather to watch his passing. He'd swum the seven seas before him And danced upon the stormy breakers. But now dying alone is all that's left for him And death a shining slowly beckons. And rolling in last veil of sunshine Sheds light upon his dying hours. But still strong in his urgent will to live For he tries again to reach the water. And turning away still ring the voices Of children laughing o'er the murky waters, And somewhere I hear the silent singing Calling on the wayward child.