Evening's Curtain
Eternal Slumber: Reflections on Sea's Unseen Toll
Lyrics
It's written of in papers, books and magazines
Recognition of the historical portrayal of seafaring adventures in written and printed forms.
For centuries adventurers set sail
Highlighting the enduring tradition of adventurers setting sail over centuries.
In schooners, clippers, sloops and brigs and barquentines
Listing different types of sailing vessels used in exploration.
O'er the deep blue ocean to prevail
Expressing the journey across the deep blue ocean as a prevailing challenge.
Believing their dominion o'er the great salt sea
Asserting the belief in human dominion over the vast ocean.
They'd snare the fish and smite the mighty whale
Describing the purpose of fishing and whaling expeditions on the sea.
But for every man who lived to boast his victory
Noting the tendency for individuals to boast about their victories at sea.
A score or more were thwarted by the gale
Highlighting the dangers of the sea, where many faced obstacles and perished.
CHORUS:
Introduction of the chorus as a reflective moment on the theme.
As evenings curtain falls upon me like a shroud
Reflecting on the speaker's contemplation as night falls, drawing parallels to a shroud.
I'm thinking of their cold eternal sleep
Recalling the eternal rest of those lost at sea beneath the waves.
Beneath the waves far too many souls to count
Emphasizing the vast number of souls lost in the darkness of the deep ocean.
Lost out in the darkness on the deep
There always will be men who sail the ocean blue
Contrasting the romanticized view of sailing with the practical necessity in challenging times.
But the romance is a thing of history
Acknowledging the shift from romanticism to a more pragmatic approach to maritime activities.
In these hard times a man just does what he has to
Highlighting the responsibility of providing for one's family in difficult circumstances.
Providing for his wife and family
Not long ago just off the coast of Provincetown
Referencing a recent event off the coast of Provincetown involving a radio beacon and debris.
They found a radio beacon bobbing in a field of debris
Describing the discovery of a radio beacon amidst debris, possibly from a maritime incident.
Three days they did search but they never found
Detailing a search for a crew associated with a vessel named Candy, lasting three days.
The crew who worked aboard the Candy be
Noting the unfortunate outcome of the search, with the crew remaining unfound.
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