 | Areytos or songs and ballads of the South |  |
WE SINK OR SWIM TOGETHER.
I.
Now row, my gallant brothers, row,Give way with will and sinew;
These seas that rise before our prow,
Will try the muscle in you!
But what's the fear if hearts be true?
We've but to pull together—
True hearts and hands, all bent to do,
Will bear us bravely, bear us through,
And save the ship, and save the crew,
In spite of wind and weather!
Row, brothers, row! row, brothers, row!
One long strong pull together!
II.
And cheer with courage, as ye row;What though the tempest brewing,
Works fate for many a brother now,
That drives, head on, to ruin?
'Tis not for us to shirk or shrink,
Though out in fearful weather:
109
And we, too, hang on Danger's brink;
But fear ye not!—don't stop to think!
Pull bravely all together!
Row, brothers, row! row, brothers, row!
One long strong pull together!
III.
Bend to your oars, good brothers, row!Give way with hearty courage!
Death's just as nigh on land, as now,
When seas are wolves at forage:
And Heaven's as near on sea as shore,
However wild the weather;
We've but to ply the manly oar,
And shut our ears to ocean's roar,
Nor heed the Fate, behind, before,
And bravely pull together!
Row, brothers, row! row, brothers, row!
One long strong pull together!
IV.
Bend to your oars, dear brothers, bend!We may not 'scape this danger—
But times of peril prove the friend,
And we've escaped even stranger;
'Tis something of God's law, I think,
When out in angry weather,
And men are dashed on Danger's brink,
And all seem doom'd, and many sink,
That one and all their hands should link,
And bravely pull together.
Row, brothers, row! row, brothers, row!
We sink or swim together!
| Areytos or songs and ballads of the South | |