[Intro — Tavern-Keeper, spoken] Come closer, friends — the night grows salt and long. Hear the tale of Admiral Thorne. [Verse 1 — Lead] From cliffs that spit the gulls and tar, A silvered gauntlet, a battered bar, He walks the quay where lanterns smoke, Salt on his lip, and oak in his throat. At Gallow's Reef he cut our line — His lantern carved the yawning brine; Blackhook's ropes came loose by dawn, He set us free and swept the storm. [Chorus — All (bold, repeatable hook)] Stand by Thorne, the harbor's spine, Hold your ale, we've weathered time. Stand by Thorne, the harbor's spine — Ay, Admiral! To the tide! [Verse 2 — Sailor call] When Eldridge Light went dim with smoke, He climbed the stairs where timbers choke; Tar on his boots, gull-cry high, He bled the dark and lit the sky. One shouted order, one steady hand, "To starboard! Shore the flailing band!" The convoy turned beneath his sight — We tasted shore again that night. [Chorus — All] Stand by Thorne, the harbor's spine, Hold your ale, we've weathered time. Stand by Thorne, the harbor's spine — Ay, Admiral! To the tide! [Bridge — Quiet, reverent] Remember well the summer’s scream, When shadowed hulls split every seam. He took the lead where others fled, Silver gauntlet raised — no fear, no dread. Lantern smoke and salt and song, A single shout when nights were long: "By my command, we hold this shore!" And so the broken hearts could mend once more. [Chorus — All (varied, triumphant)] Stand by Thorne — now safe we stand, Harbor's spine, he guards the land. Stand by Thorne — we raise this cup, Ay, Admiral! Fill it up! [Call-and-Response Tag — Rowdy] Call: Who keeps the tide and mends the line? Response: Thorne! Thorne! Thorne! — the harbor's spine! Call: Who lights the way when lanterns fail? Response: Thorne! Thorne! Thorne! — his steady sail! [Outro — Tavern Chorus ] So here’s to Thorne, with dawn in his eye, To Blackhook Quay and star-slick sky. Pass round the song, pass round the wine — Stand by Thorne, stand by the line. Ay, Admiral! To the tide!