(instrumental)

Well, you went up-lake riding in your freighter-boat
in your fine merchant-marine clothes.
You had the steering wheel tight in your hand and the salt up your nose.
Ooh, but you wake up in the morning with the waves too rough
and the old cook says he can't feed.
Go on and cry in your coffee, but soon you are going to bleed.

You had to board a big ship, didn't ya?
So much fun to go and sail.
You had to board a big ship, didn't ya?
All your friends are bound to fail.
And Gordon had the last word that night.
Record with a haunting sound.
You couldn't make to Whitefish, sunk, right.
You had to board a big ship last night.
Whoa-oh...

Yo!

Well...
They were getting sore hauling iron ore.
Thought the ship was too big to be strained.
And the stories that you told below decks kept 'em so entertained.
Aw, but now you're not sure what wind in the wires said
and you're not sure that you wanna know.
I'll give you one hint, honey: It's show-stopper in Lightfoot's show!

Yes, yes.
You had to board a big ship, didn't ya?
Freighters go, bigger that most.
You had to board a big ship, didn't ya?
Not the kind of thing to boast.
You had to give the last word last night:
"Captain says we hold our own."
You had to make the front page, boat plight.
You had to board a big ship last night.
Whoa-oh...

Oh-oh, a-whoa-oh...

Now, it makes no sense to kick my two cents in
when you're no longer even alive.
Did I go over the line with these songs about '75?

No, no, I had to write
about a big ship, didn't I?
I had to make 'em read about.
I wrote about a big ship, didn't I?
All my friends were so knocked out.
Gordon had the last word? Not quite.
We're still knocking it around.
I had to have the white-hot spotlight
by writing 'bout a big ship last night.

Whoa-oh...

Oh-oh, a-whoa-oh...

Ah, big ship...

Big ship...

Big ship...

(repeat 'til fade)