They paid me in gold to find where the night meets day The Queen blew a kiss as I sailed out across the bay I soon met misfortune among the salt and spray I'm just a sailor who long ago lost his way They sent me to war where I ditched my gun and hid In a ditch with the dead till the reaper descended She swooped in like a swallow and swallowed me whole I'm just a soldier who long ago lost his soul Wandering the halls of my own penitentiary Hauled every stone and placed each one so carefully Rounded up my enemies and locked them all away with me I'm just a jailer who long ago lost the key