Island Of Souls Lyrics - The Soul Cages - Sting

Billy was born within sight of the shipyard 

First son of a riveter's son 

And billy was raised as the ship grew a shadow 

Her great hull would blot out the light of the sun 

And six days a week he would watch his poor father 

A working man live like a slave 

He'd drink every night and he'd dream of a future 

Of money he never would save 

And billy would cry when he thought of the future 

Soon came a day when the bottle was broken 

They launched a great ship out to sea 

He felt he'd been left on a desolate shore 

To a future he desperately wanted to flee 

What else was there for a riveter's son 

A new ship to be built, new work to be done 

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One day he dreamed of the ship in the world 

It would carry his father and he 

To a place they would never be found 

To a place far away from this town. 

Trapped in the cage of the skeleton ship 

All the workmen suspended like flies 

Caught in the flare of acetylene light 

A working man works till the industry dies 

And billy would cry when he thought of the future 

Then what they call an industrial accident 

Crushed those it couldn't forgive 

They brought billy's father back home in an ambulance 

A brass watch, a cheque, maybe three weeks to live, 

And what else was there for a riveter's son 

A new ship to be built, new work to be done 

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That night, he dreamed of the ship in the world 

It would carry his father and he 

To a place they could never be found 

To a place far away from this town, 

A newcastle ship without coals 

They would sail to the island of souls.