Easy Now, Old Sea

[Verse 1] The first bell rings at half past nine, The cold has silvered every rail. I wind the lamp, i trim the flame, And read the weather by its veil. Below, the black rocks breathe in time, The harbor lamps are pinpricks far; I keep my little turning sun Between the shoal and where you are. [Pre-Chorus] No one can hear me from the shore, But still i tell the water more— [Chorus] Easy now, old sea, carry them through, There’s a light on the headland keeping watch for you. Though the winter night is quiet and wide, I’ll turn this beam till every ship is safely by. Easy now, old sea, let the cold wind roam; I’m alone up here, but i’m not alone. [Verse 2] A gull makes one slow circle round, Then settles where the warm gears hum. I count the minutes by each sweep, And hear the distant foghorn come. My supper waits beside the chart, The tide marks climb and fall below; A green light answers from the west— Some captain sees the way to go. [Pre-Chorus] No flags are flying on the bay, Still someone’s home is on the way— [Chorus] Easy now, old sea, carry them through, There’s a light on the headland keeping watch for you. Though the winter night is quiet and wide, I’ll turn this beam till every ship is safely by. Easy now, old sea, let the cold wind roam; I’m alone up here, but i’m not alone. [Bridge] At dawn the gulls will claim the stones, And daylight soften every line. I’ll leave the brass bright, log the hour, And let the next keeper take the climb. But through this stillness, while it lasts, I give the deep my steady song; A single lamp can make a promise When the coast is hard to read from on. [Final chorus] Easy now, old sea, carry them through, There’s a light on the headland keeping watch for you. Though the winter night is quiet and wide, I’ll turn this beam till every ship is safely by. Easy now, old sea, let the cold wind roam; I’m alone up here, but i’m not alone. [Outro] I’m alone up here, but i’m not alone.