Well its just my luck to have the watch,
Nothin' left to do,
But to watch the deadly water,
Glide as we roll north toward the Sue.
I wonder when they'll turn again,
And pitch us to the rail,
And hurl off one more youngster in the gale.
The kid was so damn eager,
It was all so big and new.
Never had to tell him twice,
Or find him work to do.
And evenings on the mess deck,
He was always first to sing.
Show us pictures of the girl,
He wed in spring.
But I told that kid a hundred times,
"Don't take the lakes for granted.
They go from calm to a hundred knots,
So fast they seem enchanted."
But tonight a red eyed Wiarton girl,
Lies staring at the wall
And her lover's gone into a white squall.
Its a thing that us old timers know,
In the sultry summer calm,
There comes a blow from nowhere
And it goes off like a bomb.
And a fifteen thousand tonner
Can be thrown upon her beam,
While the gail takes off before it,
With a scream.
The kid was on the hatches,
Lying, staring at the sky.
From where I stood, I swear,
I could see tears fall from his eyes.
So I hadn't the heart to tell him
That he should be on a line,
Even on a night so warm and fine.
But I told that kid a hundred times,
"Don't take the lakes for granted.
They go from calm to a hundred knots,
So fast they seem enchanted."
But tonight a red eyed Wiarton girl,
Lies staring at the wall
And her lover's gone into a white squall.
And I could feel it keeling over,
With the fury of the blow,
And I watched the rail go under, then,
So terrible and slow.
Then like some great dog,
She sherself,
And roared up right again,
Far overside,
I heard him call my name.
But I told that kid a hundred times,
"Don't take the lakes for granted.
They go from calm to a hundred knots,
So fast they seem enchanted."
But tonight a red eyed Wiarton girl,
Lies staring at the wall
And her lover's gone into a white squall.