The Wreck Of The Anna Maria

Forty long days in an old sailing ship

How my eyes long to rest on the shore

I'll be glad to see land and to touch the fair hand

Of the maiden I left there before

From the African sea we came loaded

With coconuts, spices and coal

And perfume and gold and silk dresses

For our women to wear and behold

Now the wind and the sea are arisin'

And the sails feel the birth of a storm

I turn up my coat and feel good with the hope

That soon I'll be home in the warm

But there's  trouble high up in the rigging

And the decks are awash with the sea

Sailors are trying to cope with the storm

As the sails try hard to break free

We grapple the ropes of the mainsail

As the rigging strains hard in the gale

But the wind and the sea will not answer our plea

And our efforts seem destined to fail

The lifeboats are starting to tremble

As we lower them high on the swell

Will we get home to our loved ones again

There's no one alive who can tell

Then a light in the distance before us

Quickens the heart of each man

As we row hard with hope in the sight that we see

Drawing close to the safety of land

My ship was the Anna Maria

She was found on the rocks split in two

The cargo was lost with the captain

And the first mate and some of the crew

Forty long days in an old sailing ship

How my eyes long to rest on the shore

I'll be glad to see land and to touch the fair hand

Of the maiden I left there before

Of the maiden I left there before

Of the maiden I left there before

Written by Laurie Thompson and Bruce Moss

To God be the glory