As the tree falls, so shall it lie
As a man lives, so shall he die
As the sea heaves, full fathom five
We'll be tumbling along, as she pitches and dives
A storm is abound, over the sound
You have to hold fast as long's you're alive
The seaboard a-sound, with the wind howling round
As all things that stand, come a-tumbling a-ground
You returned from the sea, to the great rowan tree
We would live of the land, the land you and me
For the tree and our love, deeply rooted they stand
I said the sea is a thief with a cold grasping hand
Despite what we gained, as the wild winds blew
I wavered, unveiled what I knew to be true
Not by choice, but by need, I signed with a crew
Just six months at sea, our dreams to renew
O my love don't you weep
Thou the gale will sweep
Not a thing we can keep
It's all bound for the deep
Now the rigs coming down
Ship downwind to beat
The wind claws at the trees
I go down with the fleet
Hear the din all around, above where we're bound
As the old rowan cracks and falls to the ground
And yet all things must fall, we're bound to the call
The bell down below, it summons us all
O my love don't you weep
Thou the gale will sweep
Not a thing we can keep
It's all bound for the deep
Now the rigs coming down
Ship downwind to beat
The wind claws at the trees
I go down with the fleet
And down by the grove, no trees standing tall
No one to cleave, nor save a stack for the fall
From down below, hear this, my call
I'm telling you this, and this shall be all
As the tree falls so shall it lie
As a man lives so shall he die
