She was built of oak and copper, white and shining canvas sails
Built with glory, built with pride and faith she'd conquer every gale
Built long ago by hands ever noble, ever strong
She ran proudly on the water, on the sea where she belonged.

Eighteen young men signed on the become the schooner's crew
Eighteen misfits, rogues and rebels, honest work they never knew
But the captain saw behind their fronts, so vile and profane
That they'd make the finest sailors who'd ever sailed the main.

Through hard work, time, and discipline, they slowly learned the trade
And soon forgot the power of the bullet and the blade
They had courage, they had hope, and they learned much about the sea
And they named her Great Redeemer for they knew she set them free.

The fugitives were transformed by the summer's end that year
Into strong, respectful seamen who could navigate and steer
And when the people looked out from the lighthouse or the shore
They could see the Great Redeemer sailing on forevermore.

The sailors knew deep in their hearts they'd never see the morning
One evening after sunset, after winds and clouds of warning
When from a five-month voyage, just out of sight of land
They were battered, they were wearied, they were shipwrecked, they were damned.

The eighteen seamen bravely fought the lightning and the gale
Until a great wave crashed on deck above the starboard rail
All eighteen men were swept away, and just before they drowned
They saw the flaming masts and deck, the great ship going down.

The captain stood amid the flames on his life's last sailing trip
For he knew that every captain must go down with his ship
He knew that all was futile, the hope of an insane dreamer
He only wished to God that he could save the Great Redeemer.

Soon after, the lighthouse keeper stood above the sea alone
And he could see the Great Redeemer sailing onward straight for home
He thought it was a miracle, but it was as he feared
Into the mist and fog, the phantom schooner disappeared.

Built long ago by hands ever noble, ever strong
She ran proudly on the water, on the sea where she belonged
Now sometimes if you look out from the lighthouse or the shore
You can see the Great Redeemer sailing home forever more.