The fleet was a floating forest spread before me on the
Thames
And
Greenwich bells saluted all her fine departing sons
I stood upon the hillside, my spyglass misted o'er and I
Turned to make my
way to home once more
Chorus
Oh to cross the line and defy the time forever
To take the paths of happiness and
walk away the pain
If for one last time you could hold these hands together
Content to scale the heights of home again
It's
hard to lose your loved one to a nation's grateful heart
For now you are her sweetheart and you never more shall part
Your
virtue she may trade on and your likeness she may buy
But she'll not hold you any more than I
Oh to cross the line
and defy the time forever
To take the paths of happiness and walk away the pain
If for one last time you could hold
these hands together
Content to scale the heights of home again
Last night I dreamt you lay with me with your head
upon my breast
You had no thought of trading me for glory in the west
The park was then our Eden and the stars our guileless
game
We charted them until the comet came
Oh to cross the line and defy the time forever
To take the paths of
happiness and walk away the pain
If for one last time you could hold these hands together
Content to scale the heights
of home again
This land may want you for a hero
She can call her very own
To glory you in battles and to honour
you in stone
I have no need of gratitude and praise and nothing more
I want my love beside me as before
Oh to
cross the line and defy the time forever
To take the paths of happiness and walk away the pain
If for one last time
you could hold these hands together
Content to scale the heights of home again
Content to scale the heights of home again........
