A Song for January 20th, 2009

[Demeter]

May we all reach the Promised Land, America, at last! I've filked a song for the occasion, with apologies to Stan Rogers, who will no doubt forgive. It's sung to THE MARY ELLEN CARTER.

THE US CONSTITUTION

She went down in 2000 in a pouring driving rain.
The skipper, he'd been drinking and the Mate, he felt no pain.
By a 5 to 4 decision she was dealt her mortal blow,
And the US CONSTITUTION settled low.

There were just us few aboard her when she finally was awash.
We'd worked like hell to save her, all heedless of the cost.
And the groan she gave as she went down, it caused us to proclaim
That the US CONSTITUTION would rise again.

Well, the owners wrote her off; not a nickel would they spend.
"She gave 200 years of service, boys, then met her sorry end.
But Wall Street paid the loss to us, so let her rest below."
Then they laughed at us and said we had to go.

But we talked of her all 8 years, some days around the clock,
For she's worth a our lives and souls, afloat and at the dock.
And with every jar that hit the bar, we swore we would remain
And make the US CONSTITUTION rise again.

Rise again, rise again, that her name not be lost
To the knowledge of men.
Those who loved her best and were with her till the end
Will make the US CONSTITUTION rise again.

All year, now, we've been with her on a barge lent by a friend.
Three dives a day in hard hat suit and twice I've had the bends.
Thank God it's only sixty feet and the currents here are slow
Or I'd never have the strength to go below.

But we'll patch her rents, stop her vents, dog hatch and porthole down.
Put cables to her, 'fore and aft and gird her around.
Tomorrow, noon, we hit the air and then take up the strain.
And watch the US CONSTITUTION Rise Again.

For we couldn't leave her there, you see, to crumble into scale.
She'd saved our lives so many times, living through the gale
And the laughing, drunken rats who left her to a sorry grave
They won't be laughing in another day. . .

And you, to whom adversity has dealt the final blow
With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go
Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain
And like the US CONSTITUTION rise again.

Rise again, rise again - though your heart it be broken
And life about to end
No matter what you've lost, be it a home, a love, a friend.
Like the US CONSTITUTION rise again.

[fight4my3sons]

1. good morning, Demeter!

How nice to see you here today! :hi:

I think your song is perfect.

[Demeter]

2. Good Morning to You!

My sig line says it all--

[Demeter]

3. kick