Lyrics
It was the year of 1900 that was 80 years ago
Refers to the year 1900, marking 80 years ago from the song's perspective.
Death come'd a howling on the ocean and when death calls you've got to go
Expresses the inevitability of death when faced with natural calamities, using the metaphor of death howling on the ocean.
Galveston had a sea wall just to keep the water down
Describes Galveston's attempt to protect itself with a sea wall to control water levels.
But a high tide from the ocean blew the water all over the town.
Highlights the failure of the sea wall due to a high tide, causing flooding in the town.
Wasn't that a mighty storm
Repeats the chorus, emphasizing the impact of a powerful storm that resulted in the loss of lives.
Wasn't that a mighty storm in the morning
-Wasn't that a mighty storm
-It blew all the people away.
-The sea began to rolling the ships they could not land
Portrays the intensity of the storm with vivid imagery of rolling seas, distressed ships, heavy rain, thunder, lightning, and strong winds.
I heard a captain crying Oh God save a drowning man
-The rain it was a falling and the thunder began to roll
-The lightning flashed like Hell-fire and the wind began to blow
-The trees fell on the island and the houses gave away
Depicts the destruction caused by the storm, including fallen trees and collapsing houses, leading to both struggle and drowning for some residents.
Some they strived and drownded others died every way.
-The trains at the station were loaded with the people all leaving town
Narrates the attempt to evacuate by trains, but the trestle collapsing in the floodwaters results in tragic consequences.
But the trestle gave way with the water and the trains they went on down
-Old death the cruel master when the winds began to blow
Personifies death as a cruel force entering with the storm, and someone pleads with death to spare them.
Rode in on a team of horses and cried death won't you let me go.
-The flood it took my mother it took my brother too
Shares personal loss, as the flood claims the singer's mother and brother, with the father expressing grief.
I thought I heard my father cry as I watched my mother go
-Old death your hands are clammy when you've got them on my knee
Describes the physical sensation of death's touch and a plea for death to return for the singer.
You come and took my mother won't you come back after me?
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