THE OPEN BOAT song lyrics
by Joel Sattler
[based on the story by Stephen Crane]

none of them knew the color of the sky
but all the men knew the colors of the sea
the feast of storm did open wide
the waves were teeth that tore through me

the earth gives
and the waters take
no man's been saved
who could not break
no matter how strong
the gods make you
you won't last long
when tide is due

the ship had sunk at dusk
we never knew the cause
a bucket made of rust
and subject to the laws
of loss and of effect
we barely did escape
one more ship gone to wreck
around the fatal cape

and so we rode the mare
in the open boat
thankful to be alive
alive alive and still afloat

there's no glory in dying at sea
to fall beneath the waves
the wine dark salt can't be breathed
Poseidon cares not if you're brave

the heart pumps saline of its own
the soul alive within its shell
life is fragile and is blown
up to heaven down to hell

and so we rose and fell
in the open boat
thankful still alive
alive alive and still afloat

row row row
though there's naught to show
no no no
blood against the flow
blow wind blow
twas ever so
row row row
row row row

Billie rowed the whole day through
and all the night and next day too
no greater love doth have a man
than to save the friends he can

o the shore so near so far
we could see so clear so clear
wrong side of the rocky bar
nothing left but death and fear

and when at last at last at last
we reached the final shore
the strongest and the best of us
would close his eyes no more

none of them knew the color of the sky
but all the men knew the colors of the sea
and fate doth never answer why
the best is left to memory....

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