It’s a good day for going to sea 
Hanno the Navigator said to me 

There’s an open sky and a steady breeze 
Out beyond the pillars of Hercules 
Above the foam-kissed waves 
Sea gulls scream 
Up in the masts of our trireme 

And it’s a good day for going to sea 
Hanno the Navigator said to me 

(Chorus)  
Water, water 
From horizon to horizon 
All I see is water 

Steer beyond all maps and charts 
Down along the coast of Africa 
The first Phoenicians on this beach 
Where the monkeys jibber and the parakeets screech 

The strangest women run wild down there 
Covered head to toe in fur and hair 
They fight like demons, better let them be 
Hanno the Navigator said to me 

(Repeat chorus) 

When you pull close to your fire at night 
With your family framed in the candlelight 
Safe within your walls of stone 
In the only village you’ve ever known 

The rain-soaked moon pours splintered crystal shadows 
on your window sill 
Like sparks of light in the shifting skies 
Our ancient ships go sailing still 

Water, water 
When my sailing days are done 
I’ll see Poseidon’s daughter 

Oarsmen pull and curse and sweat 
Underneath this creaking deck 
At night I hear their stories told 
Strong through storms and weak for gold 

And Carthage stands like an azure pearl 
Here in the middle of the known world 
And it’s a good day for going to sea 
Hanno the Navigator said to me 

(repeat chorus)