The Scorpion Departs But Never Returns Lyrics - Phil Ochs

Finger pick the verses, strum chorus 

Sailors climb the tree, up the terrible tree 

Where are my shipmates have they sunk beneath the sea? 

I do not know much, but I know this cannot be 

It isn't really, it isn't really, tell me it isn't really 

Sounding bell is diving down the water green 

Not a trace, not a toothbrush, not a cigarette was seen 

Bubble ball is rising from a whisper or a scream 

But I'm not screaming, no, I'm not screaming, tell me I'm not screaming 

Captain will not say, how long we must remain 

The phantom ship forever sail the sea 

It's all the same 

Captain, my dear Captain we're staying down so long 

I have been a good man, I've done nobody wrong 

Have we left our ladies for the lyrics of a song? 

That I'm not singing, I'm not singing, tell me I'm not singing 

The schooner ship is sliding across the kitchen sink 

My son and my daughter they won't know what to think 

The crew has turned to voting and the officers to drink 

But I'm not drinking, no I'm not drinking, tell me I'm not drinking 

Captain will not say, how long we must remain 

The phantom ship forever sail the sea 

It's all the same 

The radio is begging them to come back to the shore 

All will be forgiven, it'll be just like before 

All you've ever wanted will be waiting by your door 

We will forgive you, we will forgive you, tell me we will forgive you 

But no one gives an answer not even one goodbye 

Oh, the silence of their sinking is all that they reply 

Some have chosen to decay and other chose to die 

But I'm not dying, no I'm not dying, tell me I'm not dying 

Captain will not say, how long we must remain 

The phantom ship forever sail the sea 

It's all the same