In 1934 on the last daylight in May
Jim Harris in the Ronald P. from St. Karen's sailed away
She sailed away in search of bait till they come to Paradise sound
Where to his great and sad mistake the Irene he ran down

The boats lay to their anchors all hands were filled with joy
Not thinking any accident to them was drawing nigh
And when the Ronald hove in sight more joyful did they feel
With glowing sheets and swelling sails taking eight knots from the reel

She was like some frightened animal with the white foam cross her face
Neither sheet nor tack now did she slack while entering in this place
The boats they were all scattered and for her there was plenty of room
But she kept to near the Irene's head and she broke off her jib boom

Which pierced the Ronald's mainsail about three clothes from the lee
The mainsail left the main mast, twas an awful sight to see
Which gave them boys a cruel surprise what to do they did not know
And without their skippers orders their anchors they let go

Jim Harris lept upon the deck fired down his cap and swore
Sayin', "such a tangle now is this I have never seen before
I've been charged of schooner's great and small and I've brought them far and near
Across the broad Atlantic where the storms do rage severe"

Now if this were some youngster what would the people say
For an accident can happen to the best man anyday
It's alright when the wheel is going up but when she turns for to go down
You all might meet that same sad fate as Harris in Paradise Sound thank you.

This is a heave up sea shanty my father taught me when I was a kid