When The Children Are Asleep

I own a little house and I sail a little boat

And the fish I catch I sell

And in a manner of speakin'

"I'm doin' very well."

I love a little girl and she's in love with me

And soon she'll be my bride.

And in a manner of speakin'

I should be satisfied.

Well, ain't you?

If I told you my plans and the things I intend

It'll make ev'ry curl on your head stand on it

When I make enough money outa one of my boat,

I'll put all of my money in another little boat.

I'll make twice as much outa two little boats,

An' the first thing you know, I'll have four little boats;

Then eight little boats, then a plenty little boats,

Then a great big fleet of great big boats.

All catchin' herring, bringin' into shore;

Sailin' out again, an' bringin' more.

An' more, an' more, an' more!

Who's gonna eat all that herring?

They ain't gonna be herring. I'm gonna put 'em in cans

an' call 'em sardines. Aha... Gonna build a little sardine

cannery. Then a big one, then the biggest one in the whole

country. Oh, Carry, I'm gonna get rich on sardines. Ah!

I mean, we're gonna get rich. You an' me an' all of us...

The first year we're married,

We'll have one little kid.

The second year we're goin'

Have another little kid.

You'll soon be donnin' socks

For eight little feet-

I am not enough to another fleet!

We'll build a lot more rooms,

Our dear little house will get bigger,

Our dear little house will get bigger-

An' so will my figure!

Oh Carrie, can you imagine how it'll be when all the little

kids are upstairs in their beds, and you and me sit alone

by the firelight. Me in my armchair, and you on my knee-

Maybe... Maybe...

When the children are asleep we sit and dream,

The things that every other dad and mother dream.

When the children are asleep and lights are low,

If I still love you the way I love you today,