Thresher
on a clear April day, 1963
I took a memorable ride
on a silver submarine
100+ men,
John, Wesley, Harvey and me
all aboard the SSN-593
goin' down
goin' down
goin' down, down, down, down
Harvey to base,
"We're at 1,000 feet."
Jimmy's doin' real good
I think he's getting the hang of this thing
then the rattle of pipes
then the hiss of the steam
I was the man of the hour
'till those alarm bells started to ring
goin' down
goin' down
goin' down, down, down, down
oh, thresher
we can't take no more
slow pirouette into the arms
of the ocean floor
wonder and fear
unending black sea
held everyone's gaze
in a quiet humility
mother ocean we are
at the mercy of thee
like children in uniform
balancing on your knee