| Red War Boat |
| Shove off from the warf edge steady Watch for a smooth to give way. If she feels the lop already She'll stand on her head in the bay. It's ebb, it's dusk, it's blowing. The shoals are a mile of white, But, snatch her along, we're going To find our master tonight. For we hold that in all disaster In shipwreck, storm or sword, A man must stand by his master Once he has pledged his word. Raging seas we rode in But we've seldom saw them bust. Our master is angry with Odin And Odin is angry with us. Heavy odds have we taken, But never before such odds. The Gods know they are forsaken We're risking the wrath of the Gods! Over the crest she flies from Into its hollow she drops Cringes and clears her eyes from The windtorn breaker tops. We're out on the shrieking shoulder Of a mile high surge she drives Meet her! Meet her and hold her! Hold for your scoundrel lives! The thunders bellow and clamour The harm that they mean to do. There goes Thor's own hammer Cracking the dark in two. Close but the blow has missed her Here comes the wind of the blow. Row or the squall will twist her Broadside on to it so row! ROW! Hark ye Thor of the Thunder! We are not here for a jest, For wager, for warfare, or plunder, Or to put your power to the test. This work is not of our wishing. We'd house at home if we might. But our master is wrecked out fishing And we go to find him tonight. For we hold that in all disaster, As the Gods themselves have said A man must stand by his master 'Till one or the other is dead. Now that's our way of thinking, Now you can do as you will. While we try to save her from sinking And to hold her head to it still. Bail her and keep her moving Or she'll break her back in the trough Who says the weather's improving, Or that the swells are taping off? Sodden, chafed and aching, Gone in the loins and the knees. No matter, the day is breaking, And there's far less weight to the seas. Up mast and finish bailing. In oars and out with the beat. The rest will be tourist sailing That was a night indeed. For we hold that in all disaster, In faith we have found it true, That if only you stand by your master Then the Gods will stand by you Back to Leslie Fish Songs Back to Home |