chordBAND

[Verse 1]~

Not tonight of any night said the Coxwain of the crew



G D G

The chances of survival on a night like this are few



G C G

December 1940 on the coast of Donegal



G

Came a great north wind



G

That could have been the cruellest of them all



G D C G

14 men were missing 18 more in great destress



G

Jack Boyle knew that their future in his hands had come to rest



G C G

He knew a man who knew the sea if any man would know



G D C G

We’ll show the way without delay O’Donnell said I’ll go





[Chorus]~

G C G

I’ll go and do the best I can I’ll do what must be done



G Em C Em G

I’ll go cause I’m a lifeboat man I am my father’s son



G C G

I’ll go and do the best I can I’ll do what must be done



G Em C Em G

I’ll go cause I’m an island man I am my father’s son





[Verse 2]~

G

The neighbours watch them gather and they cast a worried eye



G D G

And wondered how that lifeboat crew could possible survive



G C G

They all agree that some at least the greatest price would pay



G

And old the men shed a tear and knelt down on the ground to pray



G D C G

While standin on the pier with his handpicked squad of men



G

Jack told each of one that they might never see their homes again



G C G

And he told that there would be no shame if this time they said no



G D C G

Each traced a cross upon his brow,.. stepped up and said I’ll go





[Chorus]~

G C G

I’ll go and do the best I can I’ll do what must be done



G Em C Em G

I’ll go cause I’m a lifeboat man I am my father’s son



G C G

I’ll go and do the best I can I’ll do what must be done



G Em C Em G

I’ll go cause I’m an island man I am my father’s son





[Verse 3]~

G

Against the storm against the gale against the mighty waves



G D G

Those men were rightly honoured as the bravest of the brave



G C G

And let everyone salute them and thank god for men like these



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Who would risk their lives for strangers in peril on the seas



G D C G

O’Donnell,.. Ward and Gallagher remember these names well



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With the Boyles,.. Byrne’s and Rodgers they faced the seas from hell



G C G

With the waves above them crashing down and a heaving mass below



G D C G

God bless them everyone who made the vow to say I’ll go





[Chorus]~

G C G

I’ll go and do the best I can I’ll do what must be done



G Em C Em G

I’ll go cause I’m a lifeboat man I am my father’s son



G C G

I’ll go and do the best I can I’ll do what must be done



G Em C Em G

I’ll go cause I’m an island man I am my father’s son





[Verse 4]~

G

Now this volunteer lifeboat crew Illion Arranmore



G D G

They faced the biggest storm that they had ever seen before



G C G

But they brought them 18 sailors home and left them on the land



G

Now their safe