Song of the Red War-Boat

Shove off from the wharf-edge! Steady!
Watch for a smooth! Give way!
If she feels the lop already
She'll stand on her head in the bay
It's ebb--it's dusk--it's blowing--
The shoals are a mile of white
But (snatch her along!) we're going
To find our master to-night

For we hold that in all disaster
Of shipwreck, storm, or sword
A Man must stand by his Master
When once he has pledged his word

Raging seas we've rowed in
But we've seldom saw them thus
Our master is angry with Odin--
And Odin is angry with us!
Heavy odds have we taken
But never before such odds
The gods know they are forsaken
We're risking the wrath of the gods!

Over the crest she flies from
Into its hollow she drops
Cringes and clears her eyes from
The wind-torn breaker-tops
Ere out on the shrieking shoulder
Of a mile-high surge she drives
Meet her! Meet her and hold her!
Pull for your scoundrel lives!

The thunders bellow and clamor
The harm that they mean to do!
There goes Thor's own Hammer
Cracking the dark in two!
Close! But the blow has missed her
Here comes the wind of the blow!
Row or the squall will twist her
Broadside on to it!--Row! Row!

Hark ye, Thor of the Thunder!
We are not here for a jest--
For wager, for warfare, or plunder
Or to put your power to test
This work is none of our wishing--
We'd house at home if we might--
But our master is wrecked out fishing
And we go to find him to-night

For we hold that in all disaster--
As the Gods Themselves have said--
A Man must stand by his Master
Till one or the other is dead

Now that's our way of thinking
Now you can do as you will
While we try to save her from sinking
And hold her head to it still
Bail her and keep her moving
Or she'll break her back in the trough
Who said the weather's improving
Or the swells are taking off?

Sodden, and chafed and aching
Gone in the loins and knees--
No matter--the day is breaking
And there's far less weight to the seas!
Up mast, and finish bailing--
In oars, and out with mead--
Oh! the rest will be two-reef sailing
That was a night indeed!

But we hold that in all disaster
(And faith, we have found it true!)
That if only you stand by your Master
Then the gods will stand by you!