The Jolly Rogers - The Ship in Distress lyrics
[The Jolly Rogers - The Ship in Distress lyrics]
You seamen bold who plow the ocean
See dangers landsmen never know
It's not foreign or a promotion
No tongue can tell what they undergo
In the blusterous wind
In the great dark waters
Our ship went driftin' upon the sea
Her headgear gone, her rudder broken
Which brought us to extremities!
For fourteen days, heartsore and hungry
Seeing but wild water and bitter sky
Poor fellows, they stood in a tutter
Casting lots as to which should die
Their lot it fell on Robert Jackson
Whose family is so very great
"I'm free to die, but oh my comrades
Let me keep look-out 'til the break of day"
When morning broke and no ship was sighted
Our hearts were heavy with our coming task
He bravely came forth and
Spoke his last words
"Now I die so that you may live!"
He drew his last breath and fell to the deck
There was no joy at our table that day!
Our hunger gone, and Death no longer knockin'
Only grief filled us our souls were bare
A full-dressed ship
Like the sun a-glitterin'
Came bearing down, the next morn
As soon as this cruel news was shouted
Our hearts were filled with remorse and grief
Our ship brought to, no longer driftin'
Safe in Saint Vincent, Cape Verde gained
You seamen all, who hear my story:
May you'll never suffer the like again!
See dangers landsmen never know
It's not foreign or a promotion
No tongue can tell what they undergo
In the blusterous wind
In the great dark waters
Our ship went driftin' upon the sea
Her headgear gone, her rudder broken
Which brought us to extremities!
For fourteen days, heartsore and hungry
Seeing but wild water and bitter sky
Poor fellows, they stood in a tutter
Casting lots as to which should die
Their lot it fell on Robert Jackson
Whose family is so very great
"I'm free to die, but oh my comrades
Let me keep look-out 'til the break of day"
When morning broke and no ship was sighted
Our hearts were heavy with our coming task
He bravely came forth and
Spoke his last words
"Now I die so that you may live!"
He drew his last breath and fell to the deck
There was no joy at our table that day!
Our hunger gone, and Death no longer knockin'
Only grief filled us our souls were bare
A full-dressed ship
Like the sun a-glitterin'
Came bearing down, the next morn
As soon as this cruel news was shouted
Our hearts were filled with remorse and grief
Our ship brought to, no longer driftin'
Safe in Saint Vincent, Cape Verde gained
You seamen all, who hear my story:
May you'll never suffer the like again!