(On landing, thinking America was Asia, Christopher Columbus sent messengers with greetings to the Great Khan, emperor of China. Naturally, the greetings were never returned. This was the first and last time the West was mistaken for the East.)

[Chorus]
"Wind and wave
In the sails
Sailing blind
Three thousand miles"

[Verse]
The men of fire and steel
With sea in their blood
And wild wings and tigers in their sails

Are hunters of the lands of gold
Rolling where the waves unfold

With maps of wind and waves
They're reading the stars
O, sailing between the sea and the open skies

"Sail on by Starlight"

* refrain

With a letter for the Great Khan
Greetings he did not return
For the words were just like burning boats
Going up in smoke
"Sail on by Starlight"



Lyrics by Chris Mosdell