For a Fragile Moment’s Ease lyrics

A long way from the mainland forgotten by the crown
There's a cabin by the lookout cliff in this sleepy little town
Where there's laughter in the orchard and me small'uns run around
And me soul mate sings a lovesong from a distant County Down

In a harbor town bordello with the cattle I was raised
This mwas any years ago now and a long way from this place
But to rise up from the gutters, there's a price you have to pay
You tell me, "Was it worth it?" when you've listened to my tale

I have fallen through the gallows, I've donned a priest man's robe
Got stuck in the windwards shallows with a tackle and a rope
Made an orphan of a keelson, and I've stared a deadeye down
Even bedded with a stern gun and I danced her off the brow

I brought fire down on Bristol, in Portal Royal I have bled
And I've swung away me trusted boarding axe till navy decks ran red
And I've smuggled shady doc*ments on pestilential dead
Sold out me loyal shipmates to save me sorry head

And I've sunk unarmed freighters, and I've watched the crewmen drown
And I shot my mate Johansen in the back in Kingston town
Even signed a sheet of paper to hunt my brethren down
Then stole away the navy sloop and ran that sh*t aground

Now I've swum across the Lethe, now I'm resting on the shore
I divided and I conquered, but now I sail no more
For my love and for my children, for a fragile moment's peace
With all my sins I paid for this friend enter, be at ease