Woman of Aran

[Verse 1]
He was a sailor and I was his bride
He was a lover about half the time
And I bore him three sons, I let them grow free
Every day that the mission bell plays
I turn and face the sea

[Chorus]
And I say: haul, haul down the mission bell
I said cut down, why don't you cut down the string
And bring him on home to me
How could I let him go
I can't find a way to fight the sea

[Verse 2]
I lost my firstborn, he never was found
The sea gave back Jamie, and washed him aground
He had the blood of his father – he looked just like me
Every day that the mission bell plays
I turn and face the sea

[Chorus]
And I say: haul, haul down the mission bell
I said cut down, why don't you cut down the string
And bring them on home to me
How could I let them go
I can't find a way to fight the sea

[Bridge]
Don't it seem an awful shame
That we're left with just a common name
And the washed out flannel shirts I made
Don't it seem an awful waste
That we're left without a single trace
'Cept the washed out flannel shirt they saved

[Verse 3]
I may be an old fool, I'll stand to the wind
I've got the good sense to know, the sea always wins
And if we're not afraid, we'll lose in the end
Every day, standing unafraid, my young son tests the wind

[Chorus]
And I say: haul, haul down the mission bell
I said cut down, why don't you cut down the string
And bring him on home to me
How could I let him go
I can't find a way to fight the sea