The stories behind Delaware - First State, Steady Hands

• First State, Steady Hands: A Morning Before the Gulls — “First State, Steady Hands” follows one technician’s pre-dawn routine, checking monitors and pumps before a small Delaware clinic even opens.

Lyrics

Before the gulls begin their arguing

And the crab boats leave the slip

Mary turns the clinic key

With a canvas case on her hip

She checks the monitor by the window

Checks the pump beside the bed

A little green light holds the room

While dawn turns silver red

Delaware first state steady hands

Salt in the air and care in the plans

From bay to the little town doors

we keep the good work moving on

Delaware when the heart days start a

careful measure a willing heart small team long

hours one promise stands keep every lifeline

in working hands

The nurse has coffee going, the doctor reads the overnight notes

Mary finds a worn out cable by the coats and reins of boats

She knows the sound of a loose connection, the pause before a warning tone

She leaves each instrument ready so nobody faces it alone

Delaware, first state, steady hands

Salt in the air and care in the plans

From the bay to the little town doors

We keep the good work moving on

Delaware, when the hard days start

A careful measure a willing heart small

team long hours one promise stands

keep every lifeline in working hands at

noon the harbor cranes lean slowly over nets and painted rails inside a

newborn's monitor settles as the winter weather fails no headline carries her

name There are no brass band marks today

Just a team that trusts its tools

And a technician who makes them stay

Delaware

first state, steady hands

Salt in the air and care in the plans

From the bay to the little town doors

We keep the good work moving on

Delaware, under sky and spark

Near the fishing lights and the hospital star

Small team, long hours, one promise stands

Keep every light flying and working hands

When the last boat turns for home

And the clinic windows shine

Mara packs her careful case

Tomorrow everything will work fine

Oh