And I was the man who sold the Arabs the moon The Emirate Princes, their hands manicured Their servants with luggage, they followed behind The African concubines, regal and tall And I was the man who sold the Arabs the moon They festooned their flags with crescent moons And I was the man who sold the English the sea They wanted the afternoon breezes it bore The sweet smell of spices from over the sea
The afternoon showers it brought during tea And I was the man who sold the English the sea I cowered before great battleship guns And I was the man who sold the Yankees the sky The black of the night and the blue of the day The endless horizon of hope and desire And I was the man who sold the Yankees the sky, The English the Sea The Arabs the moon