Here's what I've ended up with: By Charlie Ipcar, March 26-30, 2021 Tune: traditional “The Erie-e Canal” “Ever Given” Grounding We was four miles north of Port Suez, Forget it I never shall; What a terrible time we had that morn On the old Suez Canal, me boys, On the old Suez Canal! Now the wind it was a-rising, The sand was blowing free; The pilots on the flying bridge Were so blind they could not see; A hefty gust then struck our ship And she nosed into the bank; Her stern swung out the other way-- “Ever Given” was tanked, me boys, “Ever Given” was tanked. Well, first we tried her full astern But found it was no go; Then we tried the bow thrusters But she never stirred no mo'; Then a salvage tug latched on her stern And tried to swing her round, But the hawser bitts ripped off her deck; She would not leave the ground, me boys, She would not leave the ground. Then the backhoes dug her bow out, And they brought in The Big Suck, But even with ten tugs a-hauling, The ship she just stayed stuck; So they pumped out all the ballast, Awaiting the rising tide, While the crew on deck did their bit, Racing from side to side, me boys, Racing from side to side. As the sun came up on the sixth day Her stern shifted from the muck, And with eleven tugs pushing and pulling They got her bow unstuck; The crews were all a-cheering, Tug whistles blared to the shore; She’s bound for the Great Bitter Lake; She’ll not return more, me boys, She’ll not return no more. Thanks for the suggestions. Cheerily, Charlie Ipcar
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