The Lifeboat Mona

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name

The wind did blow and the sea rose up
Beat the land with mighty waves
At St Andrew’s Bay the lightship fought
The sea until her moorings gave

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name

The captain signalled to the shore
“We must have help or we’ll go down”
From Broughty Ferry at two a.m.
They sent the lifeboat Mona out

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name

Eight men formed that gallant crew
They set their boat against the main
The wind’s so hard and the sea’s so rough
We’ll never see land or home again

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name

Three hours went by and the Mona called
“The wind blows hard and the sea runs high”
In the morning on Carnoustie Beach
The Mona and her crew did lie

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name

Five lay drowned in the cabin there
Two were washed up on the shore
Eight men died when the boat capsized
And the eighth is lost forever more

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
Remember the gallant men who drowned
On the lifeboat, Mona was her name

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
The men who leave the land behind
And the men who’ll never see land again

Remember December fifty-nine
The howling wind and the driving rain
The men who leave the land behind
And the men who’ll never see land again