Fairport Convention - The Islands Lyrics
We do not fear the long ships,We've seen longships before.Men sailed here from the NorthlandsAnd hauled their boats ashore.They brought with them their music,Their language and their loreAnd they burned their boats and stayed here on the Islands.It's midday in the wintertime,Before the moon goes pale.The winter songs are very long;The storm winds and the gales.The midnightsun's as distantAs the calling of the whales'Til spring returns again to paint the Islands.The grey seals and the otter,The salmon and the char,The land locked and the sea trapped,The free birds in the air,The shepherd and the farmerAnd all those in their careHarmonise the music of the Islands.We never feared the long ships'Till the coming of the Braer,The roaring sea in anger threwThat broken boat ashore.Spilled fuel enough to take that shipTwice round the world or more.Filled the air with oil to paint the Islands.As if the sea had realisedThe tragedy in store,Its waves continued poundingAbout a week or more.Most of the crude was washed awayAnd never came ashoreAnd the sea regained its temper round the Islands.So may this be a warningTo those whose faceless greedWould sail close to our shoreline,To save both fuel and speed:The sea is our protector,Provider of our needsAnd a jealous guard and keeper of these Islands.
