59 - Home from the Sea

Words: Phil Coulter
Tune: Phil Coulter

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This powerful anthem was written by Phil Coulter to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the RNLI. The song is deeply rooted in personal loss; Coulter lost both a sister and a brother to drowning in separate incidents on Lough Swilly. Phil was a key figure in the subsequent campaign to establish a lifeboat station on the Lough, which eventually opened in 1987.

Note on Performance: To capture the rising emotion of the tribute, we recommend singing the final repeated chorus with a key change (modulating up a whole step).

On a cold winter’s night
With a storm at its height
The lifeboat answered the call
They pitched and they tossed
Till we thought they were lost
As we watched from the harbour wall
Though the night was pitch black
There was no turning back
For someone was waiting out there
But each volunteer
Had to live with his fear
As they joined in a silent prayer

To carry them …

Home, home, home from the sea
Angels of mercy, answer our plea
And carry us home, home, home from the sea
Carry us safely home from the sea

As they battled their way
Past the mouth of the bay
It was blowing like never before
As they gallantly fought
Every one of them thought
Of loved ones back on the shore
Then a flicker of light
And they knew they were right
There she was on the crest of a wave
She’s an old fishing boat
And she’s barely afloat
Please God, there are souls we can save

And carry them …

Home, home, home from the sea…

And back in the town
In a street that runs down
To the sea and the harbour wall
They’d gathered in pairs
At the foot of the stairs
To wait or the radio call
And just before dawn
When all hope had gone
Came a hush and a faraway sound
'Twas the coxswain he roared
All survivors on board
Thank God and we’re homeward bound

To carry them …

Home, home, home from the sea
Angels of mercy, answer our plea
And carry us home, home, home from the sea
Carry us safely home from the sea

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