Gather 'round for a story to be had
Of a six foot six strapping lad
He'd enlist to the navel of his own port stead
To make a name and then return home
A towering man, quiet and shy
He hugged his kids and kissed his wife goodbye
And he said young Billy don't you cry
For soon I'll be coming home
And she wished Johnny would stay home
Johnny came aboard with a gleam in his eye
On the dock below, there stood his wife
Smiling and waving as she said goodbye
And to me she yelled bring Johnny home
Never had we seen such a vaulting man
With a thirst for knowledge and a course well planned
He spoke of his family again and again
And a life he soon would sow
Yea we'd all see Johnny home
And we'd all see Johnny home someday
To his wife and kids, assuring it' okay
And we'd eat and we'd drink and we'd end the day
With a sad 'ol sailors song
And we'd all see Johnny home someday
We'd reminisce and we'd laugh and we'd watch the kids play
And we'd talk about how we're going to spend our days
Yea we'd all see Johnny home
The captain was an undaunted man
He swore he knew his enemy all first hand
And we knew someday he make his stand
If again their paths did cross
It was dark as hell on a ghostly night
The canon fire was the only light
And what we saw next was a sickening sight
And the captain's life was gone
And to the battle, we all saw Johnny run
Johnny jumped in without a fear for his life
As the enemy boarded us starboard side
We were fifteen down and dropping like flies
When I saw Johnny's eyes turn red
And he let forth a scream and a ravenous might
With a pistol in his left and a cutlass in his right
Like a wild hurricane he commenced to fight
This battle's not finished yet!
And to Johnny we owe our debt
And we'd all see Johnny home someday
To his wife and kids, assuring it's okay
And we'd eat and we'd drink and we'd end the day
With a sad 'ol sailors song
And we'd all see Johnny home someday
We'd reminisce and we'd laugh and we'd watch the kids play
And we'd talk about how we're going to spend our days
Yea we'd all see Johnny home
Then the crew joined in until their ship we breeched
We all had the vigor of ten men each
And some did die and some did flee
But in the end our crew stood tall
And we all looked to Johnny now covered in blood
He collapsed to his knees, cursing heaven above
For me punishment here what have I done
And he muttered I failed them all
And we all saw Johnny fall
And we all saw Johnny home that day
To his wife and kids, assuring it's okay
And we told them of the battle on the fifth of May
And not a braver man had fought
And we all broke down when she started to cry
And she fell down beside him and she said goodbye
And the children fell in with her by her side
And for their loss, time stood still
Then anger ensued for the months of prayers
That went unanswered and she drew back her long dark hair
And we all watched as she died a little bit right there
And she stood and addressed me as sir