Link to: Discography Red December Next Song (Truth: Part III)
		A Ship Comes Hear It! (5:30 / 1.3M)

Shortly after writing the lyrics for 'On Island', Mark wrote two more song lyrics that continued the story of the stranded castaway. (And just for the record...these songs were written YEARS before the "Castaway" movie with Tom Hanks. So no...that is not where we got the idea.) The next song in the cycle is titled 'A Ship Comes'. In the early stages of planning for "Red December" HBI agreed that 'A Ship Comes' would be a good song to develop for the album. It was decided that the song should similar in style to its predecessor but with enough difference to set them apart. To accomplish this, John used the same chords for 'A Ship Comes' as those used in 'On Island'. By re-arranging the order of the chords and by changing the rhythm pattern, the new song was born. In early 1999, John recorded a demo of the music to send to Mark. For the demo, John recorded a simple rhythm guitar track, drums, and for fun included a rainstorm sound effect CD playing in the background throughout he song. The demo tape came out so well that in 2001, HBI added the missing parts to the demo tracks and the song was done, rainstorm and all.

When it seems all hope was lost And my exile'd last forever Along came a hopeful vision A respite from stormy weather A ship appeared on the horizon Plowing across the foam But would she see the flares From my desert Island home? Has a ship come to take me and save me from despair of the life on this island have they seen the flares? Soon the vision became clearer As sunlight pierced the clouds The ship was drawing nearer And I started to shout out loud For the joy I felt that instant Seemed too good to be true When I looked at the approaching launch And caught my first sight of you. . . And a ship has come to take me And save me from despair But the joy of my rescue Was when I saw you standing here Lyrics by Mark Schaefer ©2001 by HBI and Red December Music