Believe it or not, but I started writing this song in 1987 and finished it in 2008. Why it took 21 years I don't know...It came about following the Zeebrugge ferry disaster in March 1987. That night I remember being glued to the BBC News and couldn't quite believe the scenes, people dying from hypothermia in freezing winter water off the coast of Belgium/Netherlands. The next day at school, Sally McKee our P3 teacher got us to do a news report on it. It really interested me, as did many tragedies during the 1980s, particularly those happening around me (Enniskillen bombing, Downpatrick UDR soldiers murder) and this one was the fault of "party time" ferry company (as far as the media and UK public were concerned) Townsend Thoresen. Ironic that the boat which capsized should be called "The Herald of Free Enterprise", when the very reason it sank was pursuit of money ahead of safety. The first line of the song was written in 1987, as was the melody. The rest came last year, when I started working on ferry boats for the first time, at Wightlink and my memory was jogged and I felt I could give this song some meaning.
I feel I've encapsulated the story of the disaster and at the same time, making a decent enough melody. I now work on the Condor Ferries Poole - Cherbourg/St. Malo/Guernsey/Jersey routes. Rest in peace all those innocent victims.
Written - in Bangor in 1987, and on Wightlink boat Cenred in 2008.
Lyrics -
The herald the herald of free enterprise
In March 87 we saw it capsize
The heavens the heavens are weighing me down
The port of Zeebrugge this unknown town
The assistant bosun didn't close the bow doors
But "we're so happy to welcome you onboard"
I want to know what's happening in the world
A flushing range of failures a disease of sloppiness
The herald the herald of free enterprise
On the wings of an angel a devil looks down
A token a token for a cheap winter break
A drop in the ocean we've money to make
The assistant bosun didn't close the bow doors
But "we're so happy to welcome you onboard"
I want to know what's happening in the world
A flushing range of failures a disease of sloppiness
Its ironic that the ships' name the herald of
Free enterprise sank because the company put
Pursuit of money ahead of passenger safety
The assistant bosun didn't close the bow doors
Acoustic sofa version, bournemouth, august 2008:
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