It Was All That We Had Left To Give

Well it wasn’t that long ago I bid fareweel
To my sweetheart and boarded this island of steel
A tribute to man all from funnel to keel
The Titanic rose in the dawn.

We promised that we would be married in spring
When I would return from the sea with the ring
Until then I’d manage Smith’s engines and think
Of the true love that I left behind.

Chorus-
So blow your winds westerly, westerly ho
Why face the darkness, I’m not alone
For my heart swells with pride at the bravery shone
For the women and children shall live.
It was all that we had left to give.

When my watch was over, I sat with my mates
We passed ‘round some whisky I happened to take
We talked to our sweetheart of promises made
And mermaids that live in the sea.

When all of a sudden, a terrible sound
Tore through the ship as if we’d run aground.
But how can that be, it’s just water around,
And icebergs too little to matter?

Well, I rushed to the deck and they fired a flare
“’Tis an ice berg!” they cried and then screams filled the air
“Attend to the life boats, gentlemen have a care
For I fear this ship will go down!”

Chorus

Then one by one, lifeboats touched on the wave
It’s women and children that we must forsave
For God and country ye men be ye brave
For I fear this night is our last

Then the life boats were gone, and our fortunes were made
We held hands with my brothers, we knelt and we prayed
The band gave us courage as proudly they played
Nearer my God to Thee.

So goodbye to my parents, goodbye Rosalie.
Goodbye to the children I pray that you’ll see.
Sweet England again and our own country
As I join the ages this night.

Chorus

And it’s strange in the silence, that I can hear singing
The stars in the heavens seem calling to me!
Though soaked to the skin, it’s not pain I’m feeling.
The joy in the knowing that soon I’ll be going
To be with my Father and I will be free!

Chorus

by Charlie Zahm