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The Brig Manley

from Old Ghosts In The Water by SJ McArdle

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about

In September 1871 the brig Manley was driven ashore at Bettystown with the loss of six of its seven crew. Drogheda’s lifeboat failed to achieve full muster and launched into an unprecedented storm with a partial crew. Failing to reach the brig, the lifeboat turned for home, only for the captain and crew to be villainised in the press for cowardice afterwards.

lyrics

Let me tell you a story with an unhappy ending
Of the brig Manley and its fate
A storm was raging, the likes of which we’d never seen before
Around our lifeboat station and we were called to the fray
We mustered at station, we answered the call
And we rowed into the dark and the howling gale

There were three on our crew that night
We were three miles from Queensborough
We were three minutes from our fate
When the captain called ...

The brig Manley, badly beaten by the wind
Bruised and shaken, had run aground on its lee
The crew, in blind panic, had shinned the rigging to escape
The grasping hands of the furious sea
And we heard them calling from the ratlines and shrouds
But we just couldn’t fight the vicious tide

There were three on our crew that night
We were three miles from Queensborough
We were three minutes from our fate
When the captain called:
“Turn around boys, the tide’s too strong
Turn around boys, this feels all wrong
Turn around boys, we’ll perish here
Turn around boys, there’s no shame in fear
Turn around with everything you’ve got
Turn around”

The voices faded as with heavy hearts we made our way home
And the brig surrendered its crew to the sea
And they cursed us for cowards in the streets and in the papers
And the Harbour Board called for our redundancy
And I still hear those voices whenever I rest
And I wake up calling
“Turn around”

(Eighty tonnes Newport coal in transitu
Seven young sailors stout-hearted and true
Six in the shrouds in five minutes undone
Forsaken three miles to shore
And the race is hard won)

There were three on our crew that night
We were three miles from Queensborough
We were three minutes from our fate
When the captain called
“Turn around”

credits

from Old Ghosts In The Water, released July 1, 2022
Written by SJ McArdle

SJ – lead vocal, 6 and 12 string acoustic and electric guitars, EBow, mandolins
Carol – harmony vocal
John – harmony vocal
Trevor – double bass, organ, drum
Brendan – uilleann pipes

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about

SJ McArdle image

SJ McArdle Drogheda, Ireland

SJ McArdle is an Irish songwriter and musician who has toured internationally, had several songs in movies and has released four solo albums.

He is known in part for his former work with Kern and with Long Woman's Grave with Nuala Kennedy & Trevor Hutchinson.

“Bravo for an artist who has taken contemporary Irish music to parts it far too seldom reaches” – Hot Press

Artist photos: Brian Connolly ... more

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