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The Promise Words and Music by Bill Pere The woodcarver's wife looked up from her bed with those eyes he'd adored all the years He held back a tear as she said "Life's been good, but I've not too much time left, I fear" He said "Remember how you used to stand by my shop and watch the great whaling ships come and go? You said some day you'd like to sail on a ship, and I promised you, some day you'd go... I said 'You'll stand on the bow of a great sailing ship To be cooled by the spray that the sea breezes swept And hear sultry songs that the sirens would sing... That promise will be kept That promise will be kept, Oh my dear..' ." In the kindness of evening, she died in his arms and he knew then what he had to do... When all was done in the graveyard, he ran to the tavern to look for an old friend he knew... There was the captain he'd known many years, who said he'd be sailing next day They talked for awhile, there was a faint touch of smile as the woodcarver hurried away... He said "You'll stand on the bow of a great sailing ship To be cooled by the spray that the sea breezes swept And hear sultry songs that the sirens would sing... That promise will be kept That promise will be kept, Oh my dear..." The dark cloak of midnight was draped over the town and the only light you could see Was the flickering flame through the small window pain in the woodcarver's shop by the sea... Since early that day, he held hammer in hand, and asked that God give him strength for awhile. Though his arms cried for rest, his heart moved him on as he put the last touch on the smile... He said "You'll stand on the bow of a great sailing ship To be cooled by the spray that the sea breezes swept And hear sultry songs that the sirens would sing... That promise will be kept That promise will be kept, Oh my dear..." That great piece of oak would yield to his touch as she had done in quiet moments they'd find Though his age dimmed his eyes he recreated that face from the image love etched in his mind At the first break of dawn, the captain showed up to mount up his his new figurehead... He saw the woodcarver slumped in a chair, cold and pale, And he heard the last words that he said... "See that she stands on the bow of your great sailing ship To be cooled by the spray that the sea breezes swept And hear sultry songs that the sirens will sing... Then the promise will be kept Then the promise will be kept, Oh my dear..." © Copyright Bill Pere, MysticMusic/KidThink Music All Rights Reserved |
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"If a man tried to take his time on earth and prove before he died what one man's life could be worth, I wonder what would happen to this world?" --- Harry Chapin |