Sleek, swift, streamlined ship,  shield-clad and shining,  tell to me the tale of your trip  when the limpest of men were your lining  O I know you were a ship of fools  O I know you were a ship of fools  You tried to take them to new trade  but they were afraid to follow.  Land-lubbers of the lowest grade  their hearts and their heads were both hollow  O I know you were a ship of fools  O I know you were a ship of fools  But your form is far-out, framed by foam:  a cloven-crocodile.  Whale's-highway is your home  Swan's-Riding is your style.  Fine-finned, shaped like a shark  the wind awaits your awaking.  Designed for delving into the dark  of mysteries in the making  O I know you were a ship of fools  O I know you were a ship of fools  A ship of fools  ship of fools  you were a ship of fools.