Thresher Songtext
von Shovels & Rope

On a clear April day, 1963
Took a memorable ride on a silver submarine

One hundred plus men
John, Wesley, Harvey and me
All aboard the SSN-593

Goin′ down, goin' down
Goin′ down, down, down, down

"Harvey to base
We're at 1,000 feet
Jimmy's doing real good
I think he′s getting a hold of this thing"

Then the rattle of pipes
Then the hiss of the steam
I was the man of the hour ′til alarm bells started ringing

Goin' down, goin′ down
Goin' down, down, down, down


Oh, thresher
We can′t take no more
Slow pirouette into the arms of the ocean floor

Wonder and fear
Unending Black Sea
Held everyone's gaze in a quiet humility

Mother ocean we are
At the mercy of thee
Like children in uniform balancing on your knee

Goin′ down, goin' down
Goin' down, down, down, down

Oh, thresher
We can′t take no more
Slow pirouette into the arms of the ocean floor

Oh, thresher
We can′t take no more
Slow pirouette into the arms of the ocean floor