TODAY I WENT BACK IN TIME
Today was a wonderful sunny day here and I took a drive
A drive to that place where you and your mother waited
Where you waited for the first signs of your father's ship
I watched as your eyes and hers searched the far horizon
You were always the first to sight her, before anyone else
You saw your father's ship as only her masthead appeared
You became excited, excited and pulling on your mothers hands
"Momma, Momma – it's Daddy. I see him, Oh please Momma do you?"
As her wheelhouse came over the horizon, how you hugged her
"Momma, Momma, Do you see him now, see, he's right there. See??"
Soon the entire hull was visible, even though only a blur,
A blur on the sea that soon became a ship, a ship and your Daddy.
"Momma, do you see, do you see, there at the bow, Dolphins Momma
Dolphins bringing him home to us, see how they ride the bow wave?"
She comes around the point and enters the channel, See him Momma?
See him there on the bridge? He's right there, how much longer Momma?
Round the point and full into the middle lane, clearly visible now
You jump up and down and call, "Daddy, Daddy here we are, here we are"
You wave and call to him and your mother smiles her smile, she knows
She knows how you miss your father when he's away as does she
She tries to explain that he cannot see you, you are too far away yet
As she talks, she hears the blast from the ship's horn telling her?
Telling her and you that you have been seen by the man you both need
Soon she passes Vincente and heads towards Fermin and Angel's Gate
You run back to your mother's car, so excited, so excited, "Daddy's home"
Your mother cries as she drives to the spot down below, down the hill
He's been gone for eons and eons and you both miss him so
You find your spot at the bottom of the hill, only a little bit more
You watch as the tugs power down the channel, as the pilot boat leaves
Soon you see her dark shape appear from the haze, here she comes
You run to the rail, so excited now; her bow looms overhead
You see men up on the foc'sle and how you wave as they wave to you
Then her weather deck appears and there amidships you see white
The white painted wheelhouse and there on the wings you see him
You see the man who you and your mother and brothers have longed for
There you see your Daddy standing with the Pilots as they enter port
How you wave and cry, "Daddy, Daddy, it's me and Momma, Do you see??
Please Daddy do you see me, see me here waiting for you? Do You?"
As you wave you hear the deafening blast of the ship's horn,
You jump from fright even though you know he's telling you he sees
The sound reverberates off if the buildings and tanks and other ships
You turn from your mothers embrace and there he is waving at you
As he waves you hear his voice coming thru the air, one hour more
one hour more and then I'll be ashore, as he passes he waves and
And he blows you and your mother a kiss, a kiss that you catch and save
You turn to your mother and on her face tears you see
You see tears that are for her, but mostly for you; tears of love
Tears of Love because now your Daddy is home and now you are whole.