Titanic
by 
Hans Theessink 
recording of 1983 resp. 1998 
from 
Titanic (Extraplatte 26) 
& Blue Grooves From Vienna (a 50th birthday celebration), 
That night it all started when the ship began to shake 
We were filled with amazement, a little shocked but not afraid 
We didn't really understand what caused the water to come in 
We had been told this mighty ocean-liner "even god himself couldn't sink" 
You took a picture of our child, your hat and your jewelry 
And we put on some warm clothes because we thought it might be cold at sea 
When we left our cabin we noticed how the water started pouring in 
Was it a tear or maybe just a drop of water on your chin 
Titanic, Titanic, so proud and so free 
Will your grandeur protect us from the cold icy sea 
We followed some white arrows with a lifeboat-sign 
We had to go onto the first-class deck but no one seemed to mind 
Despite the strange situation we all took it quite with ease 
Only one of the third-class passengers was behaving foolishly 
We talked to a gentleman that we'd met earlier on 
He introduced us to his wife, he introduced us to his son 
Then the captain said that the lifeboats could not be lowered down 
I believe it was because some chains of the hoist could not be found 
Titanic, Titanic, so proud and so free 
Will your grandeur protect us from the cold icy sea 
We were all invited for a free drink at the bar 
We drank to the empire and to good health for us all 
The ship was leaning to one side, we felt it sinking quietly 
We decided to stay together on board, though many people jumped into the sea 
Then the rats left the ship to try and find dry land 
But we stayed close together and held each others hand 
It was midnight on the water, we could hear the ocean roar 
In the lifeboats that were lowered down, there was no room for us anymore 
Not a helping hand around in this cold cold night 
An iceberg disappearing into the distant morning light 
We're watching the last lifeboat as it slowly lowers down 
There's many men, women and children left behind, not a helping hand around 
Not a helping hand around, not a helping hand around 
There's many men, women and children left behind, not a helping hand around 
Now the members of the band struck up with "nearer my god to thee" 
Somehow banal but in the vain of our time and century 
By now we have lost our last tiny bit of hope 
We're all going down while the flag is going up 
Instrumental extro: "Nearer My God To Thee"