Luke Kelly - The Lifeboat Mona

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name

The wind it blows and the sea roars up
Beats the land with mighty waves
At St.Andrews'1 Bay the lightship2 fought
The sea until her moorings gave

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name

The captain signalled to the shore
'We must have help or we'll go down'
From Broughty Ferry3 at two a.m.
They sent The Lifeboat Mona

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name

Eight men formed that gallant crew
They set their boat against the main
The wind's so hard and the sea's so rough
We'll never see land or home again

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name

Three hours went by and the Mona called
The winds blow hard and the seas run high
In the morning on Carnoustie4 Beach
The Mona and her crew did lie

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name

Five lay drowned in the kelp there
Two were washed up on the shore
Eight men died when the boat capsized
And the eighth is lost forever more

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
The men who leave the land behind
And the men who never see land again

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
The men who leave the land behind
And the men who never see land again


1.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Andrews
2.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightvessel
3.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broughty_Ferry
4.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnoustie