Stan Rogers

Blue Nose

Stan Rogers


Once again with the tide she slips her lines 
Turns her head and comes awake 
Where she lay so still there at Privateer's Wharf 
Now she quickly gathers way 
She will range far south from the harbour mouth 
And rejoice with every wave 
Who will know the Bluenose in the sun 

Feel her bow rise free of Mother Sea 
In a sunburst cloud of spray 
That stings the cheek while the rigging will speak 
Of sea-miles gone away 
She is always best under full press 
Hard over as she'll lay 
And who will know the Bluenose in the sun? 

That proud, fast Queen of the Grand Banks Fleet 
Portrayed on every dime 
Knew hard work in her time...hard work in every line 
The rich men's toys of the Gloucester boys 
With their token bit of cod 
They snapped their spars and strained to pass her by 
But she left them all behind 

Now her namesake remains to show what she has been 
What every schoolboy remembers and will not come again 
To think she's the last of the Grand Banks Schooners 
That fed so many men 
And who will know the Bluenose in the sun? 

So does she not take wing like a living thing 
Child of the moving tide 
See her pass with grace on the water's face 
With clean and quiet pride 
Our own tall ship of great renown still lifts unto the sky 
Who will know the Bluenose in the sun?