Stan Rogers - The Cliffs Of Baccalieu lyrics

The Cliffs of Baccalieu

We were bound home in October from the shores of Laborador

Trying to head a bad Nor'easter and snow, too

But the wind swept down upon us making day as black as night

Just before we made the land of Baccalieu.

Oh we tried to clear the Island as we brought her farther South

And the wind from out the Nor'east stonger blew

Till our lookout soon he shouted and there lay dead ahead

Through the snow squalls loomed the cliffs of Baccalieu.

It was hard down by the tiller as we struggled with the sheets

Tried our best to haul them in a foot or two

Till our decks so sharply tilted that we could barely keep our feet

As we hauled her from the rocks of Baccalieu.

Oh the combers beat her under and we thought she ne'er would rise

And her mainboom was bending neigh in two

With our lee rails three feet under and two hands at the wheel

Sure, we hauled her from the rocks of Baccalieu

Oh to leeward was the island and to win'ard was the gale

And the blinding sleet would cut you through and through

But our hearts were beating gladly for no longer could we gaze

Down to leeward at the cliffs of Baccalieu.