Music by elton john Lyrics by bernie taupin Available on the album rock of the westies Take the wheel I hear the timbers creaking Take the wheel I think this ship is sinking Jamaica seems so far and I've been thinking Old billy bones has gone to sea and quit his dockside drinking Check it out, check it out, check it out And when I'm dead who'll fly the white bird home I'm not the ancient mariner your children know And the sea's the field these old jack tars have sown 'cause billy bones just wants to know who'll fly the white bird home Oh your majesty, your majesty I heard the bosun cry Old billy bones has washed ashore Upon a foreign tide