Murmansk Run/ellis Island Lyrics - 24 Carrots - Al Stewart

Your father sailed on the Murmansk run 

To guide the flocks of the ships home one by one 

Grey beneath the Arctic sun 

Or the glow of Northern Lights 

I see you have his photograph 

His eyes are watching for dangers fore or aft 

Trading days beneath the sun 

For the cold and wintry nights of the Murmansk run 

He never did come home to you 

It's long forgotten, a childhood dream or two 

But something of the cold got through 

And it lingers in your eyes 

On days like these you hear the wind 

And feel the chill of the ice floes closing in 

Trading days beneath the sun 

For the cold and wintry nights of the Murmansk run 

Save our souls, river of darkness over me 

Save our souls, lost on the dark uncharted sea 

Now you hide yourself from view 

You seem to find it an easy thing to do 

Trading days beneath the sun 

For the cold and wintry nights of the Murmansk run 

Save our souls, river of darkness over me 

Save our souls, lost on the dark uncharted sea 

Well you wake up in the morning on Hester street 

And run to the factory, You can't afford to be late 

Working every morning, every evening, every day 

For your money, Yet there's nothing to save 

Watching your life pass by the window 

Feeling it all run through your hands 

Counting the thousands behind in the lines 

Waiting time for their chance 

From Ellis Island, day after day 

From Ellis Island, dreams slip away 

Meanwhile from the market come the cries 

Of every tongue and every nation 

Refugeless refugees 

Faces from the endless plains of Russia 

Blonde Norwegian, dark Croatian 

Songs in sad minor keys 

Feeling the heat inside the fumace 

Trying to make that break away 

Reaching their hands for a grip 

On the edge just to slip back again 

From Ellis Island, day after day 

From Ellis Island, dreams slip away 

Ah well I've heard it said 

If you just use your head 

You can make your fortune here 

One lucky break and that's all it would take 

But it never seems to be near 

Another day, another ship pulls into harbor 

And the crowd spills down the gangway 

Clutching their suitcases tight 

Blinking in the sunlight at the door of the new world 

They hold the handrail 

With all the post thrown behind 

Caught in between now and forever 

Wondering just what lies ahead 

Each one is waiting and hoping 

The door will be open to them 

On Ellis Island, day after day 

On Ellis Island, time slips away 

From Ellis Island, day after day 

From Ellis Island, dreams slip away 

Save our souls, river of darkness over me 

Save our souls, lost on the dark uncharted sea