Charlestown Songtext
von Manning

Coming home...

{Starting Out}
The lights from the harbour, a rolling carpet on the tide
And taut lines from the mast head can start to realign.
There's no feeling that words can describe for the rising emotions
That flow from the ones who survived

We set out for Bristol town on a late Monday in July
With calm sailing weather and horizons to rely on
Weighed the anchor, stowed the Clay,
Sank into the water and felt the groan of wood in
The wake of briny spray

{At Sea - Outbound}
(Instrumental)

{The Sailors Home}
With even breaths a-spacing, we can watch the bowlines tracing in
The foam that marks the cut lines on the Sea
The Captain's contemplating all the money we'll be making
When the cargos laid to rest on Bristol quay


Its hands upon the decking when the rigging needs a-checking and
The wind is blowing westward in the sails
The point of no returning meets the point of easy earning
But the forecast is for heavy rain and gale

All alone on the Sailors home
Keep an eye on the distant star
All alone in the churning waves
With a turning of the wheel

But the WATERWITCH is sturdy so she'll make it through our
Journey and see us safely back to homeland shores
Where the Leat up in the hills will concentrate the morning spills and
Push the water downwards from the moors

All alone on the Sailors home keep an eye on the distant star
All alone in the churning waves with a turning of the wheel

Come Home to me, Come Home to me, I'll wait in the rising Sun
Come Home to me. Come Home to me, Your final tale is undone


{Passed the Wreckers}
All along the rocky edges,
Shadows on the cliff side
And we see their shielded flames
Fuelled by ruin and circumstance,
Wreckers are out there again
Staying close to the shorelines, waiting...
For a moment of chance
The WATERWITCH and its stalker hunters
Start the evenings dance

The Captain grabs the spinning wheel
And waiting for the strain
Oh, he pulls against the tide
Turns the boat within the water
The casting ropes are getting shorter
As he guides this rocky ride
We men aboard feel braced and steady
Grimly working, we are ready
And locked inside this race
Only echoed seagulls calling
In the wake of early morning
We try to break out from this place

Safe ashore in their mothers arms, our children lie asleep
Far from harm and the crashing waves of souls consigned to the deep

Tie the barrels, stow the flag lines
Watchful for the breaker outlines, can we get free?
Pray for life and open sea
No darkened currents wait for me, over the side
I'll be home again and grateful
When the town throws its Welcome and the Winter Season comes
This shipping life is short and brutal, crossings hard, pay is frugal
But its my way of life!

Safe ashore in their mothers arms, our children lie asleep
Far from harm and the crashing waves of souls consigned to the deep

{Before the Storm}
(Instrumental)

{Maelstrom}
(Instrumental)

{Afloat}
(Instrumental)

{Becalmed}
Gliding north on a black mirrored Sea
There were thirty men aboard, now all but three
Clinging to the shards where the mast should proudly be
Caught up sail and rope - a floating marquee

We wait for the Wind but it has slipped away
At last my dry lips move and I start to pray
Oh Lord how can this be?
So close to shore and final rest
Body and mind take the final hopeless test

{Out of our hands}
(Instrumental)

{The Tidal Bore}
Overhead, hanging in the cloud,
The guardian of the night shines down
And I've never seen it look so grand, it's kissing the ground
Tracing the smile upon its face, I feel a surge below the line
And the mizzen stirs, serene transfers into a rising tide

The bore that lifts the prow
Gathers speed away towards the shore
And the lights from the harbour houses
Wait in silent applause
Just above the waves, gulls fly close to guide us in
Their word on the wind purges all our sins

Going Home...

{Outro}
Coming Home
Come Home to me
Come Home to me