Numbers

Sixty set out from Cambridge all good men and true

On a gunship bound for glory with a young and wild crew

We’d charge in, make our stand, and we’d see victory

But when we’d won our first battle there were only fifty-three

More died from infection despite the surgeon’s tricks

That brought our bold and fearless crew down to forty-six

We then sailed away thinking we had seen the worst

But we steered her back around when we heard a cannon’s burst

Second fight that day and our luck was fading fast

Though we stayed afloat we’d lost most of our main mast

We were now adrift and very glad to be alive

Though I must admit our crew was now down to thirty-five

Most of the food was ruined from the salt sea down below

But we didn’t fear ‘til the water started running low

With our bold and hardy crew just a fortnight out to sea

The cruel sea had taken twelve and we were twenty-three

Four more days had passed when we caught site of a gale

We were sucking rain from the rags that used to be our sail

Another week adrift was the worst sight ever seen

Our beleaguered crew was now down to just seventeen

The first mate started screaming and set the deck alight

We tried to restrain him but we had a madman’s fight

When we stopped him he’d just hum: It’ll all be fine

But by then our battered crew was no more than nine

From nine we went to seven, from seven down to three

The cabin boy, the carpenter and the boson, that was me

We all sat there on the deck, though none of us could speak

We should be keeping watch but we were all too weak

The cabin boy was curled up in a corner all alone

The carpenter was muttering and gnawing on a bone

I just kept on laughing, cause I knew I’d lost my grip

As we were taken one by one to the rescue ship

Never go to sea, me boys, never leave the land

For once you’re out to sea it doesn’t matter what you planned

Your life lies in the mercy of the sea heartless and cruel

So you’ll stay ashore unless you truly are a fool

Though three survived that awful trip I’m the last one of my crew

The others locked in their own minds, their voyage never through

So listen to me lads before you take your hellish trip

Man belongs upon the ground, not on some Goddamn ship