Requiem For The Mesquite

Am C G Am Smoke curls up from the embers of a cigarette, F C G And lingers in the snowy, silent night. Am Em F C And I stand here, nestled in an emptiness Dm Am G And watch the distant pulsing harbor light. F C G Am Seventeen years, I’d gladly give them back F C G For that first-class cutter in her prime; F C G Am I worked my way up from cadet, she was my first command, F C G Am Now it just seems a waste of time—a sorry waste of time. Am C G Am Five years ago, this very night, not far from here, F C G The winter had its hold upon the bay. Am Em F C We pulled the buoy out and secured it on her deck; Dm Am G The men then went below to warmth and some card-play. F C G Am Out of the night, the rending groan of rock on steel F C G Played its deadly hand against her frame, F C G Am Grounded on the shoal, at the mercy of the beating waves F C G Am Pounding out its endless refrain—its deadly refrain. Am C G Am Nobody knows the wheres and whys of happenstance, F C G The officer on deck was new and bright. Am Em F C Experience is the best teacher, so they say, Dm Am G I’m guessing there were lessons learned that night. F C G Am But after all, the commander is responsible, F C G For performance and safety of the crew; F C G Am And panic resolves to an action when adversity F C G Am Comes calling; it all comes down to you—always down to you. Am C G Am So many times I’ve asked myself how could it be F C G That all of us were saved except for her. Am Em F C Four weeks on end, pounded by relentless seas Dm Am G Abandoned to a winter undeferred. F C G Am She’s only a wreck rusting on the bottom now, F C G A haven for deep divers to find F C G Am A memorial to those universal qualities F C G Am Incompetence and the bottom line—the holy bottom line.