Me thinks I see a host of craft spreading their sails to lea
As down the Humber they do glide all bound for the northern sea
Me thinks I see on each small craft a crew with hearts so brave
Going out to earn their daily bread upon the restless waves
Chorus:
And its three score and ten boys and men were lost from Grimsby town
From Yarmouth down to Scarborough many hundreds more were drowned
Our herring crafts, our trawlers, our fishing smacks as well
They long defied that bitter night and battled with the swell
Me thinks I see them yet again as they leave the land behind
Casting their nets into the sea the fishing shoals to find
Me thinks I see them yet again and all on boards alright
with the sails close reefed and the decks cleared up and the sidelights burning bright
October's night left such a sight was never seen before
There were spars and shafts and broken yards come floating to the shore
There was many a heart of sorrow, there was many a heart so brave
There was many a hearty fisher lad did find a watery grave
Me thinks I hear the skipper say come lads come shorten sail
For the sky to all appearances looks like an approaching gale
Me thinks I see them yet again and the midnight hour is past
Their tiny crafts a battling their against the lay blast
