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Well, it's four o'clock in the afternoon |
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And the anchors have been weighed |
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From miami to nassau, |
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She's bound across the waves |
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She'll be headin' south through biscayne bay |
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Into the open sea |
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Yarmouth castle, she's a-dyin' and don't know it |
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Now the many years she's been to sea |
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She's seen the better times |
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She gives a groan of protest |
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As they cast away her lines |
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And the grumble of her engines |
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And the rust along her spine |
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Tells the castle she's too old to be sailin' |
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But the sands run out within her heart |
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A tiny spark glows red |
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It smoulders through the evening |
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There's laughter overhead |
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Now the men are served, and the cards are dealt |
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And the drinks are passed around |
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Deep within the fire starts a-burnin' |
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Now it's midnight on the open sea |
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And the moon is shining bright |
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Some people join the party |
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And others say good-night |
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There's many who are sleeping now |
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It's been a busy day |
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And a tiny wisp of smoke is a-risin' |
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'oh lord,' she groans, 'i'm burning!' |
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'let someone understand!' |
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But her silent plea is wasted |
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In the playin' of the band |
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Everybody's dancin' on her deck |
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And they're havin' such a time |
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Then a voice says |
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'shut up and deal, i'm losin'' |
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Deep within the yarmouth castle |
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The fire begins to glow |
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It leaps into the hallways |
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And climbs and twists and grows |
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And the paint she wore to keep her young |
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Oh lord, how well it burns |
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And soon that old fire is a-ragin' |
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Up beneath the bridge it's climbin' fast |
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The captain stands aloft |
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He calls up to the boatswain, 'n' says |
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'boatswain, we are lost' |
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For the ragged hoses in the racks |
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No pressure do they hold |
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And the people down below |
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Will soon be dyin' |
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All amidships, oh she's blazin' now |
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It's spreadin' fore and aft |
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The people are a-scramblin' |
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As the fire blocks their path |
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The evil smoke surrounds them, |
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And they're fallin' in their tracks |
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And the captain in his lifeboat is a-leavin' |
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Oh then the ship, bahama star |
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Comes steamin' through the night |
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She sees the castle blazin' |
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And 'tis a terrible sight |
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'jump down, jump down!' the captain cries |
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'we'll save you if we can!' |
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Then the paint on his funnels is a-fryin' |
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'god help the ones who sleep below |
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And cannot find the way! |
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Thank god for those we've rescued |
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Upon this awful day.' |
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Now the heroes, they are many, |
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But the times are growin' slim |
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And now from stern to bow |
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She's a-blazin' |
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Oh the yarmouth castle's moanin' |
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She's cryin' like a child. |
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You can hear her if you listen |
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Above the roar so wild |
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Is she cryin' for the ones who lie |
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Within her molten sides? |
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Or cryin' for herself, i'm a-wonderin' |
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But the livin' soon were rescued |
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The ones who lived to tell |
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From the star they watched her |
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As she died there in the swells |
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Like a toy ship on a mill pond |
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She burned all through the night |
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Then slipped 'neath the waves |
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In the mornin' |