[Chorus]
I'm waiting for ships that never come in
Just watching and waiting in vain
It seems that life's stormy sea holds nothing for me
But broken dreams and shattered schemes
With each new day's dawning I try to pretend
One more tomorrow and waiting will end
I'm waiting for ships that never come in
I wonder where they can be

[Spoken Verse]
Now, life is only a game of poker
And happiness is the pot
They deals you five cards in the cradle
And you play, whether you like it or not
Now, some get a bad hand to start with
And the game doesn't seem on the square
When you pick up your cards and discover
That you were born without even a pair
Now, some take a chance at bluffing
And stake everything they've got
On a little dinky poor flush
And sometimes, it wins a pot
While others will break up openers
To draw for a middle straight
Why, they know the chance they are taking
But they learned their mistake too late
Now, some can't help playing crooked
Against all good advice
But they seldom get away with it
In the end, they pay the price
Now me, I've always been a loser
Why, it seems I never can win
Why, I'm just a dreamer who's waiting
For ships that never come in
[Outro]
I'm waiting for ships that never come in
I wonder where they can be