Then Jack McQuire was the next to go
When brave heart stopped at last
He sank but he almost reached the shore
Through the raging tide and blast
The skipper brave had a heart of oak
And a body tried and true
He fought the tide and freezing cold
For an hour that passed and two.
He reached the shore with broken strength
And grasped at the barnacled rock
He never knew for he fainted there
How the cold wind cut and mocked
Jeered o’er the grave of his comrades four
Drowned in the icy sea
But the same sad fate that came to them
Still waits for you and me.
So sailors tall pause in your strength
To heed my sad grim warning
Lest you shall meet this same sad fate
Some gusty brawling (fatal) morning.
Be on your watch for gas boat fumes
’Tis the boatman’s greatest bane
For hearts must break when the boat goes down
In the crash of blasting flame.
And those ashore shall feel no more
The joy of the boats in homing
For grey gull fly when the ship goes down
In the icy tidal, running.
