Here's my update of this song to date:


Charles Ipcar, 2/9/2012
Tune: traditional Greenland Fisheries

The Wreck of the Costa Concordia

It was Friday night when we set sail,
January the thirteenth day,
When our gallant ship the Costa Concordia
For Giglio bore away, brave boys,
For Giglio bore away!

Our Captain rose from his dining chair,
A wine glass in his hand,
"Let's slip up to the bridge, my dear,
You'll see us kiss the land," brave boys,
"You'll see us kiss the land!"

As they gazed from the bridge the moon was full,
And the sea was smooth like glass,
As our ship sped on full fifteen knots,
"Just see how close we pass," brave boys,
"Just see how close we pass!"

As our ship steamed in our Captain called
An old friend on the shore;
"Look sharp, old man, you'll see a sight
You'll remember evermore," brave boys,
"You'll remember evermore!"

The point loomed up as our Captain spoke;
Our helmsman began to sweat,
But it was not his place to raise his voice
And urge the course re-set, brave boys,
And urge the coarse re-set.

"Too close, too close!" our Captain cried,
"Full starboard, post hoc!"
Our helmsman swung her hard and fast,
But could not clear the rock, brave boys,
Could not clear the rock!

She scraped the rock as she swung by
And her hull was ripped asunder;
Her lights went out and her engines died,
'Twas all a bloody blunder, brave boys,
'Twas all a bloody blunder!

There was mass confusion on the decks,
Crew and passengers rushed the boats;
As the water rushed in she began to list;
But how long would she float, brave boys,
How long would she float?

As the list grew worse our Captain bold,
Swung the ship around;
She drifted slowly toward the shore,
And with a crunch was hard aground, brave boys,
With a crunch was hard aground!

And some of our lifeboats failed to launch
And there was much alarm,
But our Captain slipped into his gig
With his broad clutched under his arm, brave boys,
With his broad clutched under his arm!

"Climb back on board," the Coast Guard cried,
"To save more lives, be bold!"
"No, I'll make for the shore, and do no more,
For the night's so dark and cold," brave boys,
"For the night's so dark and cold!"

Most were saved but some were lost,
And the ship was a total wreck,
But our Captain landed safe on shore
Resolved to save his neck, brave boys,
Resolved to save his neck!

Now Giglio Isle is a romantic place,
When the moon and stars shine bright;
But keep to the channel one and all
Or you will feel its bite, brave boys,
Or you will feel its bite!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble