Lyrics

[Verse 1] Sterling Hayden on a barge in Amsterdam One of those backwater Dutch canals A bottle of Johnny Walker between his legs Drunk but articulate as hell He was saying, "Yeah, I ratted on people During the McCarthy era, huh, you haven't the foggiest notion Of the contempt I have for myself, maybe that's why we drink, eh? Some damn thing, shipwrecks the heart" [Verse 2] Sterling Hayden on a three-masted schooner Kidnapped his kids and sailed 'round the globe But a man can sail around in one big circle And not escape his wounded sailor's soul [Chorus] So heave her up the main sail, boys Heave her up and away we'll go We're bound for the bay where the white whales play In the midnight straits of Jericho And if ever I return, Pretty Peggy O All your cities I will burn, yeah, I would With your cardboard sea and your paper moon O'er the penny arcade called Hollywood [Instrumental break] [Verse 3] He ran guns through the German lines in World War II The Viking God stood six-feet-five Played in 'Johnny Guitar' and 'The Asphalt Jungle' 'The Killing' and 'The Long Goodbye' [Verse 4] I saw him once on the Johnny Carson show Late in his troubled career He said, "Just give me a room over lookin' the Hudson, yeah With a typewriter and a mattress. I'll write you A helluva novel, my dears" So here's to all the tough guy actors And the false gods who made 'em And wherever he sails tonight on the Seven Seas May the Lord sail with Sterling Hayden [Chorus] So heave her up, my bully boys Heave her up and away we'll go We're bound for the bay where the white whale plays In the midnight straits of Jericho And if ever I return, Pretty Peggy O All your cities I will burn, yeah, I would With your cardboard sea and your paper moon O'er the penny arcade called Hollywood [Outro] Heave her up Heave her up, my bully boys