Rum Runner

Deep sea siren sounding
Through the early morning hours
One night off, learn to be blind
Not a breath of wind
Foggy fingers creeping round the mast
And frosty flowers
Hard along the handrail
Where the ghosts of mermaids sail
Let me get home safe and dress me
Father, I have sinned

Starting out a sailor
When my parents did disown me
Shut the door and buy the law
The county small-town Toms
Winter cold and tales of gold
Brought me into the city
Down among the dead men
Lonely and without a friend
Only to discover that the gold
Was mined with rum

Sweet Jesus, save some mercy for me
When your kingdom comes
Cos everybody else is after
A man who's running rum

Sweet Jesus, save some mercy for me
When your kingdom comes
Cos everybody else is after
A man who's running rum

Staring through the fogbank
For the dreaded coast guard butter
Creditors lie at my back
And prison lies before
One mistake and I lie
With my cargo in the gutter
Men so sure they know what's right
Dug my footsteps every night
Running like a whale at sea
Or fox upon the shore

Sweet Jesus, save some mercy for me
When your kingdom comes
Cos everybody else is after
A man who's running rum

Sweet Jesus, save some mercy for me
When your kingdom comes
Cos everybody else is after
A man who's running rum