‘Republic rammed by unknown vessel
200 miles Ambrose Light
Lever of key broken in darkness.
impossible to get our weak spark
Florida comes, her bow is smashed
Willing to help but no radio
Listen for our rockets, submarine bell
Very dark now, sinking slow
Goodbye, goodbye old man
Until we meet again
The hours of the night
Sinking far from sight
Owing to darkness, time is fixed
Splintered woodwork piling in
Fog is thick, can see no lightship
Can’t read our bad condition
Tell them to hurry jamming fierce
Mighty cold here, please make haste
Listen for our rockets, submarine bell
‘What depth water, what course to take?
‘Hurry, please, old man
Two bodies outside my room
Don’t know who they are
Killed in their staterooms
How deep is the water?
What course to take?
Lost our position
Give him our condition
Hard to navigate!
All alone here
Very dark now
Stern going down
Submarine bell
Come carefully
I’m only half dressed
Only half dressed
Quiet all stations
Submarine bell
No one wants me
Lyrics copyright 2013, David Rosenheim