INTRO: C
VERSE:
C Am G F
Well it's just my luck to have the watch, with nothing left to do
C F Am G
But to watch the deadly waters glide as we roll north to the 'Soo',
C Am Em F
Wonder when they'll turn again and pitch us to the rail
C G F
Whirl off one more youngster in the gale.
C Am G F
The kid was so damned eager. It was all so big and new.
C F Am G
Never had to tell him twice, or find him work to do.
C Am Em F
And evenings on the mess deck he was always first to sing,
C G C
Show us pictures of the girl he'd wed in spring.
CHORUS
G F C
But I told that kid a hundred times "Don't take the Lakes for granted.
F C Am G
They go from calm to a hundred knots so fast they seem enchanted."
C Dsus2 Em F
But tonight a red-eyed Wiarton girl lies staring at the wall,
Am G F
And her lover's gone into a white squall.
C Am G F
It's a thing that us oldtimers know. In a sultry summer calm
C F Am G
There comes a blow from nowhere, and it goes off like a bomb.
C Am Em F
And a fifteen thousand tonner can be thrown upon her beam
C G F
While the gale takes all before it with a scream.
C Am G F
The kid was on the hatches, lying staring at the sky.
C F Am G
From where I stood I swear I could see tears fall from his eyes.
C Am Em F
So I hadn't the heart to tell him that he should be on a line,
C G C
Even on a night so warm and fine.
REPEAT CHORUS
C Am G F
And I could feel her keeling over with the fury of the blow.
C F Am G
And I watched the rail go under then, so terrible and slow.
C Am Em F
Then, like some great dog she shook herself and roared upright again.
C G C
Far overside, I heard him call my name.
FINAL CHORUS
(end final chorus with C instead of F)
