The sea is rough in the rain and hail.
Its icy waters would make flesh numb,
Waves hit the breakwater like an eching drum.
I walk the pier soaked by rain and spray,
Its now deserted for night meets day.
I turn and look at the lifeboat lock,
And think of the men who watch the clock.
An S.O.S. and they tackle the seas,
Their wives await them upon the quays.
They risk there lives,then well why,
For these are the men of the R.N.L.I.
Above the cliffs I see a flare,
Its as red and fiery as the sun,
Its the coastguards call if its one.
Another bang,another flare,
That calls the lifeguards there.
I begin to shiver with the thought,
Of the souls the rough seas have caught.
Across the bay I hear the sound,
Of screaching tyres across the ground.
Motorcycles,cars and scooters,
Amidst the sound of sirens and hooters.
And watch men come from their bed.
Headlights illuminate this wooden pier,
As these men rush and show not there fear.
There's the coxwain,now he's gone,
There goes another his pyjama coat still on,
Half a second and his jumpers on,
In the other half he too is gone.
The boathouse now begins to fill,
Each man trained to do his drill.
Wives wait alongside me,they too are brave
For without their men where would they be.
As my eyes see the boat go down the ramp.
Its blue hull breaks each wave,
As if she knows there's a life to save.
A shivering sensation goes down my spine,
As these men hang on to their life line.
A red and green light is all I see,
A child cries after his father alongside me.
I give him a smile and say "Hello there Jim",
And then in my mind think of that hymn.
Eternal Father strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bites the mighty ocean deep,
His own appointed soul to keep".
