[Verse 1]

Now, it's just my luck to have the watch, with nothing left to do

But watch the deadly waters glide as we roll north to the Soo

And wonder when they'll turn again and pitch us to the rail

And whirl off one more youngster in the gale

[Verse 2]

The kid was so damned eager, it was all so big and new

You never had to tell him twice or find him work to do

And evenings on the mess deck, he was always first to sing

And show us pictures of the girl he'd wed in spring

[Chorus]

But I told that kid a hundred times, "Don't take the Lakes for granted

They go from calm to a hundred knots so fast they seem enchanted"

But tonight, some red-eyed Wiarton girl lies staring at the wall

And her lover's gone into a white squall

[Verse 3]

Now, it's a thing that us old-timers know, in a sultry summer calm

There comes a blow from nowhere, and it goes off like a bomb

And a fifteen thousand tonner can be thrown upon her beam

While the gale takes all before it with a scream

[Verse 4]

The kid was on the hatches, lying staring at the sky

From where I stood, I swear I could see tears fall from his eyes

So I hadn't the heart to tell him that he should be on a line

Even on a night so warm and fine

[Chorus]

But I told that kid a hundred times, "Don't take the Lakes for granted

They go from calm to a hundred knots so fast they seem enchanted"

But tonight, some red-eyed Wiarton girl lies staring at the wall

And her lover's gone into a white squall

[Verse 5]

When it struck, he sat up with a start; I roared to him, "Get down!"

But for all that he could hear, I could as well not made a sound

So I clung there to the stanchions, and I felt my face go pale

As he crawled hand over hand along the rail

[Verse 6]

I could feel her heeling over with the fury of the blow

I watched the rail go under then, so terrible and slow

Then, like some great dog, she shook herself and roared upright again

Far overside, I heard him call my name

[Chorus]

But I told that kid a hundred times, "Don't take the Lakes for granted

They go from calm to a hundred knots so fast they seem enchanted"

But tonight, some red-eyed Wiarton girl lies staring at the wall

And her lover's gone into a white squall

[Verse 7]

So it's just my luck to have the watch, with nothing left to do

But watch the deadly waters glide as we roll north to the Soo

And wonder when they'll turn again and pitch us to the rail

And whirl off one more youngster in the gale

[Chorus]

But I tell these kids a hundred times, "Don't take the Lakes for granted

They go from calm to a hundred knots so fast they seem enchanted"

But tonight, some red-eyed Wiarton girl lies staring at the wall

And her lover's gone into a white squall