Reach Down From Heaven



A Song of Sorrow & Surrender

the captain is crazy
the ocean is mad
when a wave crashes
he thinks he's Sinbad
out to find treasure
that hides in the deep
he's robbing the night
and stealing our sleep
he would crash all our bodies
on a reef or a pier
and laugh in the crow's nest
while we tremble in fear
but we dare not oppose him
we dare not fight back
we play by the rules
we never attack

help us
help us
reach down from Heaven
and help us
the night is all bloody
the dawn is all red
help us
somebody help us
we want to live

"the profits are soaring"
he cries to the sky
"the future, it beckons
you cannot deny"
and the storm crashes thunder
and the lightning is fierce
"please, captain, oh captain"
we cry through our tears
"let's find us a harbor
and rest for awhile"
but he turns in the tempest
and makes a strange smile
"God is my compass
the devil's first mate
we sail into heaven
with hell as our fate"
but we dare not oppose him
we dare not fight back
we play by the rules
we never attack

help us
help us
reach down from Heaven
and help us
the night is all bloody
the dawn is all red
help us
somebody help us
we want to live

back at the office
the company men
smoke big fat cigars
with big stupid grins
and when all the wives
come around with their fear
the men reassure them
and offer good cheer
"we know best, little ladies
worry not, be at peace
now run along home
worry not in the least"
and the women departed
with children in tow
and brandy was offered
and the men "yo-ho-ho'd"
but we dare not oppose him
we dare not fight back
we play by the rules
we never attack

help us
help us
reach down from Heaven
and help us
the night is all bloody
the dawn is all red
help us
somebody help us
we want to live

the ship lay in tatters
on a reef made of sin
the men had all drowned
while the Captain had grinned
he sat in his rowboat
and sang about doom
saw the owl and the pussycat
as they sailed by the moon
he shook both his fists
and pulled at his hair
and yelled "I'm the Captain!
I can sail anywhere!"
and the moon was reflected
in the waves of the sea
a sight of such wonder
of eternity
but we dare not oppose him
we dare not fight back
we play by the rules
we never attack

help us
help us
reach down from Heaven
and help us
the night is all bloody
the dawn is all red
help us
somebody help us
we want to live

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Image from here.

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