Douglas from Tracks LP by The Powdered Earth

It was not plain sailing getting the goods through
Your Bofors gun aimed at nothing and no one – until they found you
Protect the supplies – fix your eyes on the blue
Threats from the skies above and the depths beneath you

But…

You could stand on the deck at night
And see to the ends of space
And be sorry for the stars
So far from this lovely place

At the bars in New York and Baltimore
Your drinks and your high jinks were paid for
The uniform opened any door
It was freedom and fun and friendship you were fighting for

You must remember this
When ice and metal kissed
Caught her above the waterline
After repairs the silent prayers
Two ships fell foul of a U-boat on the prowl

And when the tears have dried
The fallen far and wide
They will not be denied
Till time has up and died
Sleeping souls sparkle like the dew
And our freedom is the prize
And the enemies have their eyes
On us forgetting you

You could stand on the deck at night
And see to the ends of space
And be jealous of the stars
So far from this ghostly place

Ahoy! Sicilian civilians in a bum boat
You were two weeks short of your pay and could barely stay afloat
It was hot, so the trader got your Navy overcoat
And in return, you got a banjo ukulele – the antidote

You could stand on the deck at night
And pluck at a gentle pace
And be jealous of the stars
So far from concentration face

Your diary showed in Llanthony Road
There was a midnight fright
You played your piano as loud as you could
Then came the singing until it was light

Doug’s home! (After six long years)
Doug’s home!
Doug’s home! (Only happy tears)
Doug’s home!

• Folk
• Olafur Arnalds
• beck
• brian wilson
• simon and garfunkel
• sufjan stevens
• United Kingdom