 | Sea Songs |  |
80
HOW WE SAVED THEM.
A LIFEBOAT BALLAD.
“Look alive, men!” was the shout,
Scarce heard above the roar
Of the thundering billows tumbling out
From the night up the grating shore:
“Look alive!” “Ay, ready!” And far
Out, up from the foam, again,
Shot a rocket—a burning star,
Blood-red—through the blinding rain.
“Now, never a wilder night
Have we launched us to sea, God knows!
But the Goodwins sent up that light;
Hurrah! to the storm she goes!”
Scarce heard above the roar
Of the thundering billows tumbling out
From the night up the grating shore:
“Look alive!” “Ay, ready!” And far
Out, up from the foam, again,
Shot a rocket—a burning star,
Blood-red—through the blinding rain.
“Now, never a wilder night
Have we launched us to sea, God knows!
But the Goodwins sent up that light;
Hurrah! to the storm she goes!”
“Bend to it, my mates! pull all!
Drive her out through the racing foam!
We'll save those for help who call,
Before we again see home.
Steer coolly, now, old mate—steer!
You hold their lives in your hand;
Through all, we'll pull; never fear
But we'll get the poor souls to land.
Our boat is the queen of tight boats;
How well to that sea she rose?
Nothing beats our beauty that floats;
Hurrah! to the wreck she goes!”
Drive her out through the racing foam!
We'll save those for help who call,
Before we again see home.
81
You hold their lives in your hand;
Through all, we'll pull; never fear
But we'll get the poor souls to land.
Our boat is the queen of tight boats;
How well to that sea she rose?
Nothing beats our beauty that floats;
Hurrah! to the wreck she goes!”
“To leeward! I hear their cries:
That shout, it came up the gust.
Steady all, men! ah, there she lies;
Pull under her lee, we must.
Now, quick; stand by with the coil!
Cool, cool, steady, mate! Now throw!
They have it! The sea may boil,
But safe to the shore they go.
The children! That woman first!
Wrap them aft! Thank God for those!
Now, in with the rest; The worst
Is past. Off to shore she goes!”
That shout, it came up the gust.
Steady all, men! ah, there she lies;
Pull under her lee, we must.
Now, quick; stand by with the coil!
Cool, cool, steady, mate! Now throw!
They have it! The sea may boil,
But safe to the shore they go.
The children! That woman first!
Wrap them aft! Thank God for those!
Now, in with the rest; The worst
Is past. Off to shore she goes!”
| Sea Songs | |