Last Boat Leaving - Elvis Costello

Hush my little one don’t cry so

You know your daddy’s bound to go

They took his pride

They took his voice

Don’t upset him now, don’t make a noise

They said «You're lucky son you’ve still got a choice»

Last boat leaving

Don’t waste your tears

It’s not as if I’m in chains

I don’t want to go now, it would be better for

You, too, if I don’t look back when we sail

Hush my dear, while I whisper it in your ear

We’re not going to sail tonight

We’re going to disappear

And it feels like a punishment, but I don’t know what for

Take care of your mother, son, it’s you that she adores

Because no matter how long we sail we’ll never reach the shore

Last boat leaving

So dry your tears

It’s not as if I’m in chains

When you go to school, son, you’ll read my

Story in history books

Only they won’t mention my name

So hush now, my darling, my sweet little one

I hope that you never have to do what I’ve done

Do you know what I’ve done?

Why I’m going away?

On the last boat leaving

This stinking town

It’s the last boat leaving, it’s the last boat leaving

You’ve had my innocence, you’ve had my heartbreak

You’ve taken the place where I once belonged

Now what more can you take?