SWIM TO THE STAR
As recorded by Peggy Seeger on "Swim to the Star/Flowers by the Roadside" (2014)

The ship went went down in cold water,
The band played on.
Women and children float away,
Nearer my god to thee.
The crew, the black gang, and men who made her
Nameless, gone, all gone,
Cry out to the world, we’re going down, we’re going down, we’re going down.
Dead sons, lost lovers,
Fathers and brothers gone
Belfast, Southampton, weeping, weeping women.

Over and over and over,
Ships of state, ships of fools.
Lower the lifeboats,
The rich sail away, nearer to god are they.
No power, no glory,
Only hope remains,
Swim to the star.
Down, down, in dark water,
The show goes on.
Cry to the stars, we’re going down, we’re going down, we’re going down.
The stars listen, the stars listen,
And drift away.