Post by Neal Allen (snowtracks) on Oct 31, 2012 22:27:30 GMT -6
A NIGHT ON THE SEA _ Rev 1
Our moorings dropped, our course is set, the shore falls off our lee
Our spirits high, our boat is strong, full sails are pulling free
The tiller answers my command; we soon can see no sign of land
She heels and hangs and cuts the breeze; the spray a splendid rainbow band
As she skims the shimmering sea
The puffs blow somewhat stronger now; we free the sheets some wind to spill
The gunwale dips, we reef the main; she shakes and trembles with the thrill
We crack a beer and suck it back, we chuckle as we make her tack
She lifts her head then crashes down with a loud resounding thwack
As she powers through the choppy sea
As night sets in the gusts pick up and soon they pipe and shrilly whine
The sky blacks out, the moon is lost, the firmament we can’t divine
Bag the headsail, tuck the main; batten gainst the salty rain
Life lines on when up on deck; our ship is tracking like a train
As she splinters the phosphorous sea
The sheets strain at the winches now, the wild wolf gale loudly keens
The tiller shakes my captain’s hand; I fight her by all human means
The rudder chatters in its course, the boat is like a rampant horse
Sea boots seek out the cockpit sides, to help me muster all my force
As she battles the building sea
The wind shrieks like a siren shrill, the yacht is moving very fast
Our eyes can’t pierce the black of night, but weaving waves are sheer and vast
To slow the boat sea anchors trail, we carry not a shred of sail
Green water dumps on cringing crew and white froths flying twist and flail
As she bends to the punishing sea
Lips are tight, the humour’s gone, except some hollow nervous cracks
Thunder-bolts the black skies rend, ragged lightning forks and tracks
Water walls like switchback rides, with jagged hollow tearing sides
She crests them like a raging bull that we must somehow stay astride
As she Bucks on the rodeo sea
Then just when aching muscles cry that they can do their work no more
The wind grows less; we take deep breaths, our battered bodies tired and sore
Homewards now we weary tread, to welcome soup and warm soft bed
“Same time, same place next week old chums”. That’s all that’s ever heard or said
Home to sail in our dreams on the sea.
A NIGHT ON THE SEA (Original version)
Our moorings dropped, our course is set, the shore falls off our lee
Our spirits high, our boat is strong, full sails are pulling free
The tiller trembles in my hand; we soon can see no sign of land
She heels and hangs and cuts the breeze; the spray a splendid rainbow band
As she skims the emerald sea
The puffs blow somewhat stronger now; we free the sheets to spill
The gunwale dips, we reef the main; the boat can sense the thrill
We crack a beer and suck it back, we chuckle as we make her tack
She lifts her head then crashes down; with a loud resounding thwack
As she powers through the choppy sea
As night sets in the gusts pick up and soon they pipe and whine
The sky blacks out, the moon is lost, the stars we can’t divine
Bag the headsail, tuck the main; batten gainst the salty rain
Life lines on when up on deck; our ship is tracking like a train
As she sinters the phosphorous sea
The sheets strain at the winches now, the gale like a wild wolf keens
The tiller shakes my captain’s hand; I fight her by all means
The rudder chatters in its course, the boat is like a rampant horse
Sea boots planted on cockpit sides, I am using all my force
As she battles the building sea
The wind shrieks like a siren and the boat is going fast
Our eyes can’t pierce the blackness but the waves are sheer and vast
To slow the boat sea anchors trail, we carry not a shred of sail
Cold water dumps on the cringing crew and flying white froths flail
As she bends to the punishing sea
Lips are tight, the humour’s gone, save for some nervous cracks
Black skies resound with thunder, ragged lightning forks and tracks
Water walls like switchback rides, with jagged hollow tearing sides
She crests them like a raging bull and we must stay astride
As she Bucks on the rodeo sea
Then just when aching muscles say that they can do no more
The wind grows less; we take deep breaths, our bodies tired and sore
Homewards now we weary wend, to a cup of soup and a soft bed friend
“See you next week - same time lads”. That’s all that’s ever said
Home to sail in our dreams on the sea.
Our moorings dropped, our course is set, the shore falls off our lee
Our spirits high, our boat is strong, full sails are pulling free
The tiller answers my command; we soon can see no sign of land
She heels and hangs and cuts the breeze; the spray a splendid rainbow band
As she skims the shimmering sea
The puffs blow somewhat stronger now; we free the sheets some wind to spill
The gunwale dips, we reef the main; she shakes and trembles with the thrill
We crack a beer and suck it back, we chuckle as we make her tack
She lifts her head then crashes down with a loud resounding thwack
As she powers through the choppy sea
As night sets in the gusts pick up and soon they pipe and shrilly whine
The sky blacks out, the moon is lost, the firmament we can’t divine
Bag the headsail, tuck the main; batten gainst the salty rain
Life lines on when up on deck; our ship is tracking like a train
As she splinters the phosphorous sea
The sheets strain at the winches now, the wild wolf gale loudly keens
The tiller shakes my captain’s hand; I fight her by all human means
The rudder chatters in its course, the boat is like a rampant horse
Sea boots seek out the cockpit sides, to help me muster all my force
As she battles the building sea
The wind shrieks like a siren shrill, the yacht is moving very fast
Our eyes can’t pierce the black of night, but weaving waves are sheer and vast
To slow the boat sea anchors trail, we carry not a shred of sail
Green water dumps on cringing crew and white froths flying twist and flail
As she bends to the punishing sea
Lips are tight, the humour’s gone, except some hollow nervous cracks
Thunder-bolts the black skies rend, ragged lightning forks and tracks
Water walls like switchback rides, with jagged hollow tearing sides
She crests them like a raging bull that we must somehow stay astride
As she Bucks on the rodeo sea
Then just when aching muscles cry that they can do their work no more
The wind grows less; we take deep breaths, our battered bodies tired and sore
Homewards now we weary tread, to welcome soup and warm soft bed
“Same time, same place next week old chums”. That’s all that’s ever heard or said
Home to sail in our dreams on the sea.
A NIGHT ON THE SEA (Original version)
Our moorings dropped, our course is set, the shore falls off our lee
Our spirits high, our boat is strong, full sails are pulling free
The tiller trembles in my hand; we soon can see no sign of land
She heels and hangs and cuts the breeze; the spray a splendid rainbow band
As she skims the emerald sea
The puffs blow somewhat stronger now; we free the sheets to spill
The gunwale dips, we reef the main; the boat can sense the thrill
We crack a beer and suck it back, we chuckle as we make her tack
She lifts her head then crashes down; with a loud resounding thwack
As she powers through the choppy sea
As night sets in the gusts pick up and soon they pipe and whine
The sky blacks out, the moon is lost, the stars we can’t divine
Bag the headsail, tuck the main; batten gainst the salty rain
Life lines on when up on deck; our ship is tracking like a train
As she sinters the phosphorous sea
The sheets strain at the winches now, the gale like a wild wolf keens
The tiller shakes my captain’s hand; I fight her by all means
The rudder chatters in its course, the boat is like a rampant horse
Sea boots planted on cockpit sides, I am using all my force
As she battles the building sea
The wind shrieks like a siren and the boat is going fast
Our eyes can’t pierce the blackness but the waves are sheer and vast
To slow the boat sea anchors trail, we carry not a shred of sail
Cold water dumps on the cringing crew and flying white froths flail
As she bends to the punishing sea
Lips are tight, the humour’s gone, save for some nervous cracks
Black skies resound with thunder, ragged lightning forks and tracks
Water walls like switchback rides, with jagged hollow tearing sides
She crests them like a raging bull and we must stay astride
As she Bucks on the rodeo sea
Then just when aching muscles say that they can do no more
The wind grows less; we take deep breaths, our bodies tired and sore
Homewards now we weary wend, to a cup of soup and a soft bed friend
“See you next week - same time lads”. That’s all that’s ever said
Home to sail in our dreams on the sea.