A Stills song about open-ocean sailing in the South Pacific, and reflecting on life during the quiet stretches. This article explains all the nautical terms.

This song started off as an unfinished project… Read More [Verse 1]

Got out of town on a boat, going to Southern islands

Sailing a reach before a following sea

She was making for the trades on the outside

And the downhill run to Papeete

Off the wind on this heading lie, the Marquesas

We got eighty feet of the waterline

Nicely making way

In a noisy bar in Avalon, I tried to call you

But on a midnight watch I realized

Why twice you ran away

[Pre-Chorus]

(I think about)

Think about how many times I have fallen

Spirits are using me, larger voices calling

What heaven brought you and me

Cannot be forgotten (I've been around the world)

[Chorus]

I have been around the world (Looking)

Looking for that woman-girl

(And I know she knows)

Who knows love can endure

And you know it will

[Verse 2]

When you see the Southern Cross for the first time

You understand now why you came this way

'Cause the truth you might be running from is so small

But it's as big as the promise

The promise of a coming day

So I'm sailing for tomorrow, my dreams are a-dying

And my love is an anchor tied to you

Tied with a silver chain

I have my ship

And all her flags are a-flying

She is all that I have left

And music is her name

[Pre-Chorus]

(I think about)

Think about how many times I have fallen

Spirits are using me, larger voices calling

What heaven brought you and me

Cannot be forgotten (I've been around the world)

[Chorus]

I have been around the world (Looking)

Looking for that woman-girl

Who knows love can endure

And you know it will

And you know it will

(Yes)

[Verse 3]

So we cheated and we lied and we tested

And we never failed to fail

It was the easiest thing to do

You will survive being bested

Somebody fine

Will come along, make me forget about loving you

In the Southern Cross