Here I sleep the morning through
'Til the wail of the call to prayer awakes me
And there ain't nothing at all to do
But rise and follow the day wherever it takes me

I stand at the window and I look at the sea
And I am what I am, and what will be, will be
I stand at the window and I look at the sea
And I make me a pot of opium tea

Down at the port I watch the boats come in
Watchin' the boats come in can do something to you
And the kids gather around with an outstretched hand
And I toss them a diram or two

Well, I wonder if my children are thinking of me
'Cause I am what I am, and what will be, will be
I wonder if my kids are thinking of me
And I smile and I sip my opium tea

At night the sea lashes the rust red ramparts
And the shapes of hooded men who pass me
And the mad moanin' wind, it laughs and laughs and laughs
At the strange lot that fate has cast me

Well, the cats on the rampart sing merrily
That he is what he is and what will, be will be
Yeah, the cats on the rampart sing merrily
And I sit and I drink up my opium tea

I'm a prisoner here, I can never go home
There is nothing here to win or lose
There are no choices needed to be made at all
Not even the choice of having to choose

Well, I'm a prisoner here, yes, but I'm also free
'Cause I am what I am and what will be, will be
I'm a prisoner here, yeah, but I'm also free
And I smile and I sip my opium tea