Christmas At Sea
Sting Lyrics

All day we fought the tides between the North Head and the South
We spent the entire day struggling against the strong currents that flowed between the North Head and the South.

All day we hauled the frozen sheets, to 'scape the storm's wet mouth
Throughout the day, we worked hard to pull the icy sails in order to avoid being swallowed up by the dangerous storm out at sea.

All day as cold as charity, in bitter pain and dread
The whole day, we were as cold as giving to the poor, experiencing intense discomfort and fear.

For very life and nature we tacked from head to head
We had to constantly change our direction to avoid colliding with geographic features in order to save our lives and protect the environment.

We gave the South a wider berth, for there the tide-race roared
We purposely steered clear of the South due to the rough and wild current found in that area.

But every tack we made we brought the North Head close aboard
Even though we were avoiding the South, we had to keep turning back towards the North Head frequently to avoid dangerous situations.

We saw the cliffs and houses, and the breakers running high
As we navigated the sea, we caught sight of rugged coastal cliffs and stunning homes, all while bracing ourselves for the violently lashing waves.

And the coastguard in his garden, his glass against his eye
We even spotted the coastguard in his garden, observing us through a telescope to ensure our safety.

The frost was on the village roofs as white as ocean foam
Ice covered the tops of homes in the village, resembling the frothy foam of ocean waves.

The good red fires were burning bright in every 'longshore home
The warm, inviting fires of every home along the shoreline illuminated the entire village.

The windows sparkled clear, and the chimneys volleyed out
The windows gleamed brightly and smoke billowed out of chimneys, underlining the inviting and inviting atmosphere of the village.

And I vow we sniffed the victuals as the vessel went about
We caught a whiff of the delicious food that was being prepared in various village homes as our ship sailed past them.

The bells upon the church were rung with a mighty jovial cheer
The ringing of church bells filled the air with joy and cheer.

For it's just that I should tell you how (of all days in the year)
I feel obligated to share with you that, out of all the days in the year,

This day of our adversity was blessed Christmas morn
This happened to be a very special, blessed Christmas morning for us, even though we were dealing with many adversities at sea.

And the house above the coastguard's was the house where I was born
Not only that, but the house above the coastguard's home was actually the place where I was born.

And well I knew the talk they had, the talk that was of me
I was aware of the gossip and discussion among villagers about me and my family.

Of the shadow on the household and the son that went to sea
They spoke of how my departure to sea affected my family and the shadow it cast upon them.

And O the wicked fool I seemed, in every kind of way
I felt like a foolish and unwise person for sailing away from my family and enduring hardships at sea.

To be here and hauling frozen ropes on blessed Christmas Day
I was hauling icy ropes on a day that is supposed to be a blessed, joyous holiday, which made me feel even worse about my decision to leave my family behind at this time of year.