Survivor Leave
(Ken Steven)

I never really reckoned the ship would die in seconds -
No time to think or fight or even grieve -
And for some the smoke and fire became a funeral pyre,
And I'm lucky to be on survivor leave.

cho: Survivor leave, survivor leave,
And I'm lucky to be on survivor leave.

It isn't so surprising when you scan the bare horizon
And death's arrived before you've time to breathe.
Ship's discipline can't waver when there's no way left to save her,
And I'm lucky to be on survivor leave.

Now, me mates that caught the blow never had a chance to know,
And the aftermath just makes my stomach heave.
We could only call the roll, and attempt some fire control,
And I'm lucky to be on survivor leave.

Now, those moments of pure strife, they're going to last me all my life,
Though the family's glad I've got this special leave.
There's nothing more I'm dreading, now I've come from Armageddon,
And I'm lucky to be on survivor leave.

Oh, there's got to be a reason to heal all the hurts and lesions,
On the killing ground, it's too bad to believe.
What's the use of disagreeing, when you're fighting and not seeing,
And the whole world can't be on survivor leave?

(Final chorus, sung twice:)

Survivor leave, survivor leave,
And the whole world can't be on survivor leave.

From the Boarding Party
copyright Ken Stevens, 1982
Note: Survivor leave, a Royal Navy tradition, was granted to any sailor who
survived his ship's sinking.
RG