When I was young and in my prime And could wander wild and free There was always a longing in my heart To follow the call of sea So I'll sing farewell to Carlingford And farewell to Greenore I'll think of both day and night Until I return once more Until I return once more On all of the stormy seven seas I have sailed before the mast But on every voyage I ever made I swore it would be my last Now I have a girl called Mary Doyle And she lives in Greenore And the foremost thought was in her mind To keep me safe on the shore Now a landsman's life is all his own He can go or he can stay But when the sea gets in your blood When she calls you must obey