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I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

— John Masefield Salt-Water Ballads (1902)

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Notes from Wikiquote

The later version is the wording used in the song setting by John Ireland.

More quotes by John Masefield

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky.

God warms his hands at man's heart when he prays.

Love is a flame to burn out human wills,
Love is a flame to set the will on fire,
Love is a flame to cheat men into mire.

Death opens unknown doors. It is most grand to die.

When Life knocks at the door no one can wait,
When Death makes his arrest we have to go.

All John Masefield quotes →

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: John Masefield (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.