The stories behind Lantern on the Rail

• Lantern on the Rail Puts a Repair Crew in a Rowboat, on Purpose — A sea shanty about hauling tools and know-how to an island clinic turns a supply run into a picture of how far this field's expertise actually travels.

Lyrics

Be the cases, check the lines, morning tide is turning.

Hands together, hearts in time, there's a far -off shore worth earning.

Grey water climbs the harbor wall, rain drums on hard on canvas.

We lash the crates and count them all, then read the weather's warning. a week of wind can hold a boat

a squall can bend the schedule but every note and every code is marked beside the ledger

what do we carry through the gale tools and parts and knowledge who keeps the lantern on

the rail? Every hand in the boat

Pull my friends, the clinic waits

Past the headland, past the gates

Step by step and o 'er by o 'er

We bring the know -how to their shore

We check the seals, we test the charts

We sort the screws by measure

A careful eye can save a march

A spare can save a journey

No hurry, nod, and no loose pin

No missing page or number

We call each item, call again

While thunder rolls behind us

What do we carry through the gale

Tools and parts and knowledge

Who keeps the lantern on the rail

Every hand in the boat

All my friends, the clinic waits, past the headland, past the gates.

Step by step and o 'er by o 'er, we bring the know -how to their shore.

The compass shakes, the mass rope sings, the deck runs slick beneath us, yet every voice together rings,

hold steady, keep the measure.

We trade the watch through sleepless hours with broth and bread between us, and learn the names of distant towers

My story sent to greet us

When the rain shuts down the bay

We mend record and wait

When the clouds release the day

We rise before the late tide

No single hand can steer this load

No lone voice knows the answer

The road is long across the foam

But teamwork makes us faster

At last the distant clinic shines

A small lamp near the water

Local hands meet ours in lines

And lift the cases gladly

We show the checks, explain the care

We listen, learn, and alter

For every craft is strongest there

When many minds work after

what did we carry through the gale tools and parts and knowledge who brought the lantern

to the rail every hand in the boat pull my friends the work begins open doors and welcome in

Step by step and o 'er by o 'er

We share the know -how on their shore

Hoist the sail and mark the tide

Stand as one beside, beside

From the harbor to the farthest door

We carry care from shore to shore

Count the crates and coil the rope

Leave a chart for those who follow

Where there's a clinic holding hope

We'll cross the restless water