AL STEWART

Murmansk Run/Ellis Island

 

Original

Alternate version

Your father sailed on the Murmansk run

To guide the flocks of the ships home one by one

Grey beneath the Arctic sun

Or the glow of Northern Lights

 

I see you have his photograph

His eyes are watching for dangers fore or aft

Trading days beneath the sun

For the cold and wintry nights of the Murmansk run

 

 He never did come home to you

It's long forgotten, a childhood dream or two

But something of the cold got through

And it lingers in your eyes

 

On days like these you hear the wind

And feel the chill of the ice floes closing in

Trading days beneath the sun

For the cold and wintry nights of the Murmansk run

 

Save our souls, river of darkness over me

Save our souls, lost on the dark uncharted sea

 

 

Now you hide yourself from view

You seem to find it an easy thing to do

Trading days beneath the sun

For the cold and wintry nights of the Murmansk run

 

 

Save our souls, river of darkness over me

Save our souls, lost on the dark uncharted sea

 

 

-----------------

 

Well you wake up in the morning on Hester Street

And run to the factory

You can't afford to be late

Working every morning, every evening, every day

For your money

Yet there's nothing to save

Watching your life pass by the window

Feeling it all run through your hands

Counting the thousands behind in the lines

Waiting time for their chance

 

From Ellis Island, day after day

From Ellis Island, dreams slip away

 

Meanwhile from the market come the cries

Of every tongue and every nation

Refugeless refugees

Faces from the endless plains of Russia

Blonde Norwegian, dark Croatian

Songs in sad minor keys

 

Feeling the heat inside the fumace

Trying to make that break away

Reaching their hands for a grip

On the edge just to slip back again

 

From Ellis Island, day after day

From Ellis Island, dreams slip away

 

Ah well I've heard it said

If you just use your head

You can make your fortune here

One lucky break and that's all it would take

But it never seems to be near

 

 

Another day, another ship pulls into harbour

And the crowd spills down the gangway

Clutching their suitcases tight

Blinking in the sunlight at the door of the new world

They hold the handrail

With all the past thrown behind

 

Caught in between now and forever

Wondering just what lies ahead

Each one is waiting and hoping

The door will be open to them

 

On Ellis Island, day after day

On Ellis Island, time slips away

From Ellis Island, day after day

From Ellis Island, dreams slip away

 

Save our souls, river of darkness over me

Save our souls, lost on the dark uncharted sea

Your father sailed on the Murmansk run

To guide the flocks of the ships home one by one

Grey beneath the Arctic sun

Or the glow of Northern Lights

 

I see you have his photograph

His eyes are watching for dangers fore or aft

Trading days beneath the sun

For the cold and wintry nights of the Murmansk run

 

 He never did come home to you

It's long forgotten, a childhood dream or two

But something of the cold got through

And it lingers in your eyes

 

You watch the trees bend in the wind

And feel the chill of the ice floes closing in

Trading days beneath the sun

For the cold and wintry nights of the Murmansk run

 

Save our souls, river of darkness over me

Save our souls, lost on the dark uncharted sea

 

 

And now they stretch their hands to you

Why are you pulling away, you always do

Trading days beneath the sun

For the cold and wintry nights of the Murmansk run

 

Save our souls, river of darkness over me

Save our souls, lost on the dark uncharted sea

 

 

 

-----------------

 

Well you wake up in the morning on Hester Street

And run to the factory

You can't afford to be late

Working every morning, every evening, every day

For your money

Yet there's nothing to save

Watching your life pass by the window

Feeling it all run through your hands

Counting the thousands behind in the lines

Waiting time for their chance

 

On Ellis Island, day after day

From Ellis Island, dreams slip away

 

Meanwhile from the market come the cries

Of every tongue and every nation

Refugeless refugees

Faces from the endless plains of Russia

Blonde Norwegian, dark Croatian

Songs in sad minor keys

 

Feeling the heat inside the fumace

Trying to make that break away

Reaching their hands for a grip

On the edge just to slip back again

 

From Ellis Island, day after day

From Ellis Island, dreams slip away

 

Ah but it all seems so strange, you can feel yourself changing you know

It’s growing now

Some find the light at the end of the road

If you know

Then show me just how

 

Another day, another ship pulls into harbour

And the crowd spills down the gangway

Clutching their suitcases tight

Blinking in the sunlight at the door of the new world

They hold the handrail

With all the past thrown behind

 

Caught in between now and forever

Wondering just what lies ahead

Each one is waiting and hoping

The door will be open to them

 

On Ellis Island, day after day

On Ellis Island, time slips away

From Ellis Island, day after day

From Ellis Island, dreams slip away

 

Save our souls, river of darkness over me

Save our souls, lost on the dark uncharted sea