Pleasures Of The Harbor

Pleasures of the Harbor - Phil Ochs

"My life as John Wayne." - Phil Ochs,

this song is based on the 1940 John Ford

movie "The Long Voyage Home" starring John Wayne,

and based on a Eugene O'Neill play

--

Capo III

Verse: C G Em F F C G Am (twice)

Intro: you're on your own !

And the ship sets the sail

They've lived the tale

To carry to the shore

Screaming at the oars

Or staring from the rail

And the sea bids farewell

She waves and swells

And sends them on their way

Time has been her pay

And time will have to tell

Oh soon your sailing will be over

Come and take the pleasures of the harbor

And the anchor hits the sand

The hungry hands

Have tied them to the port

The hour will be short

For leisure on the land

And the girls scent the air

They seem so fair

With paint upon their face

Soft as their embrace

To lead them up the stairs

Chorus: Oh soon ...

In the room dark and dim

Touch of skin

He asks her of her name

She answers with no shame

And not a sense of sin

'til the fingers draw the blind

Sip of wine

The cigarette of doubt

The candle is blown out

The darkness is so kind

Chorus: Oh soon ...

And the shadows claim the light

Same old sight

Thrill has flown away

Oh, all alone they lay

Two strangers in the night

'til his heart skips a beat

He's on his feet

To shipmates he must join

She's counting up the coin

He's swallowed by the street

Chorus: Oh soon ...

In the bar hanfs a cloud

The whiskey's loud

There's laughter in their eyes

The lonely in disguise

Are clinging to the crowd

And the bottle fills the glass

The haze is fast

He's trembling for the taste

Of passion gone to waste

In memories of the past

Chorus: Oh soon ...

In the alley red with rain

Cry of pain

For love was but a smile

Teasing all the while

Now dancing down the drain

'til the boys reach the dock

They gently mock

And lift him on their backs

And lay him on his rack

And leave beneath the lock

Chorus: Oh soon ...

Repeat first verse