Drowned Horses of Ameland (source - with minor corrections)

DROWNED HORSES OF AMELAND
(Ken Stephens)
The last launch of 'De Reddingboot', the Horse-drawn lifeboat of Ameland Netherlands

The wind blew high above the dunes
And the wild, white breakers roared
The cry went up: "A German yacht
It's stranded near the shore
The lifeboat must be launched at once
They need us desperately"

Refrain: And parts of the heart of Ameland
Went galloping to the sea

The harness creaked, the whistles blew
The trailer rumbled on
The lifeboat must be launched in haste
Or else the yacht is gone
From the farms all over Ameland
The farmers brought their steeds

The shining suns of Ameland
Are beautiful to see
But around the island all the sand
Is moving ceaselessly
It piles up to create the shoals
And opens up the deep
And sometimes it creates shoals
Where nothing can escape

The breakers ran high to the beach
As the gale tore at the shore
The lifeboat and the team flinched not
As to the seas they bore
The boat was launched for rescue
And went successfully

The heavy trailer foundered
And took the horses down
The harness held them in the sea
Soon, the horses drowned
The men worked hard but had no chance
To cut the animals free

People now remember that night
That night of seventy-nine
When the lifeboat team from Ameland
Launched for their final time
On the island winds, their manes are blown
For they're now running free