White Squall

Now it's just my luck to have_ the watch_ with_ nothing left to do_ But watch the deadly_ waters glide_ as we roll_ North to the Sault_ And wonder when they'll turn again_ and pitch us_ to_ the rail_ And whirl off one more_ young_-ster_ in_ the gale___ The kid was so damn eager_ it was all_ so big and new_ You never_ had_ to tell him_ twice_ or find him work to do_ And evenings on the mess deck_ he was al_-ways first to sing_ And show us pictures_ of_ the girl_ he'd wed in_ spring__ But I told that kid_ a hundred times_ don't take the lakes for gran_-ted_ They go_ from calm_ to a hundred knots_ so fast they_ seem_ enchanted_ But tonight_ some red-eyed_ Wiarton girl_ lies sta_-ring at the wall_ And her lover's_ gone_ into_ a white_ squall___ Now it's a thing_ that us old_ timers know_ in a sul_-try 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 gale_ takes all_ before it_ with a scream_ The kid was on_ the hatches_ lying sta_-ring at the sky_ From where I stood I swear I could see tears fall_ from his e-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 gran_-ted_ They go_ from calm_ to a hundred knots_ so fast they_ seem_ enchanted_ But tonight_ some red-eyed_ Wiarton girl_ lies sta_-ring at the wall_ And her lover's_ gone_ into_ a white_ squall___ When it struck_ he sat up_ with a start_ I roared to him get down_ But for all_ that he_ could hear I could as well not made a sound_ So I clung there_ to the stanchions_ and I felt_ my face go pale_ As he crawled_ hand over hand_ along_ the rail_ Now I could feel her heeling over_ with the fu_-ry of the blow_ And I watched the rail_ go under then so_ terrible and slow_ Then like some great dog_ she shook herself_ and roared_ upright_ again_ Far over side_ I heard him call my name_ But I told that kid_ a hundred times_ don't take the lakes for gran_-ted_ They go_ from calm_ to a hundred knots_ so fast they_ seem_ enchanted_ But tonight_ some red-eyed_ Wiarton girl_ lies sta_-ring at the wall_ And her lover's_ gone_ into_ a white_ squall___ So it's just my luck to have the watch with_ nothing left to do_ But watch the deadly_ waters_ glide as we roll North to the Sault_ And wonder when they'll turn again_ and pitch us to_ the rail_ And whirl off one more_ young_-ster in the gale___ But I told that kid_ a hundred times_ don't take the lakes for gran_-ted_ They go_ from calm_ to a hundred knots_ so fast they_ seem_ enchanted_ But tonight_ some red-eyed_ Wiarton girl_ lies sta_-ring at the wall_ And her lover's_ gone_ into_ a white_ squall___