Rob Mathes - Island of Souls (Broadway Version) lyrics

[ENSEMBLE] Oom dey ey, oom dey ey, oom dey ey Oom dey ey, oom dey ey, oom dey ey [JACKIE WHITE] Gideon was born within sight of the shipyard This son of a riveter's son Gideon was raised as the ship grew a shadow Her great hull would blot out the light of the sun [ENSEMBLE] Oom dey ey, oom dey ey, oom dey ey Oom dey ey, oom dey ey, oom dey ey [JACKIE WHITE] Trapped in the cage of the skeleton ship All the workmen suspended like flies… [JACKIE & PEGGY WHITE] Caught in the flare of acetylene light: A son and his father as an industry dies [COMPANY] What else is there for a shipbuilder's son? (Ooh) A new ship to complete, new work to be done... (Ooh) One day he dreamed of a ship in the world That would carry his father and he To a place they would never be found To a place far away from this town [FATHER O'BRIEN] And year after year a new bottle was broken That launched a great ship out to sea He'd stand with his girl near the bend in the river And the town that he desperately wanted to flee [YOUNG GIDEON] Another ship ready to launch [YOUNG MEG] It's a beautiful thing [YOUNG GIDEON] Let's hope it, Meg. We can get out before it's too late [YOUNG MEG] Gideon, we can't leave Wallsend. We can't just get on a boat and go – [YOUNG GIDEON] But we can. All it takes is the doing of it. And you. And me... Will ye come with me Meg to the bend in the river On a ship that will carry us over the sea? We'll canvas the stars and we'll harness the moonlight [YOUNG MEG] We'll rope the south wind to the clouds, you and me [YOUNG GIDEON] Then we'll cut loose the moorings [YOUNG GIDEON & YOUNG MEG] The winds they shall turn And we'll always look fo'wards and never astern [YOUNG GIDEON] We'll be stowaways [YOUNG MEG] Pirates! [YOUNG GIDEON & YOUNG MEG] Whole fleets we shall burn And I'll/you'll find us a berth At the end of the earth [YOUNG GIDEON] I promise [YOUNG MEG] You promise [YOUNG GIDEON] I promise [YOUNG GIDEON & YOUNG MEG] We'll never return [JACKIE WHITE] And then what they call an industrial accident Left old Joe Fletcher half dead [JACKIE & PEGGY WHITE] They brought Gideon's father back home in an ambulance A bra** watch, a cheque, and an invalid's bed [JACKIE, FATHER O'BRIEN, PEGGY, & COMPANY] What else was there for a shipbuilder's son, (Ooh) A new ship to be built, new work to be done... (Ooh) [MEN] For this is our work in the welding of steel And the bending of plates in the shape of a keel In our hands are the tools that we'll leave to our sons The traditions and sk**s that we hope to pa** on Til we sail Til we sail to the island of souls [JOE FLETCHER] Here, you'll be needing these. Apprentice positions are hard to come by. You'll be taking it [YOUNG GIDEON] No – I don't think so [JOE FLETCHER] Your place is here, in the yards [YOUNG GIDEON] But that's your place, not mine [JOE FLETCHER] Then tell me, how are we going to live? Someone has to put food on the table [YOUNG GIDEON] I just know I can't stay here. I can't end up like… [JOE FLETCHER] … Like me? Like my father and his father? That's what you mean [YOUNG GIDEON] Yes [JOE FLETCHER] Hell with you then, Gideon Fletcher. If that's all my life means to you, then get the f** out of my sight [YOUNG GIDEON] No, Dad – [COMPANY] That night he dreamed of a ship in the world That would carry his soul to the sea To a place he could never be found To a place far away from this town This Newcastle ship without coals He would sail to the island of souls [YOUNG GIDEON] ...He's going to make me go into the yards [YOUNG MEG] Running away from him won't help [YOUNG GIDEON] And staying here? Will that help? His life may be over, but mine's not [YOUNG MEG] He needs you here, Gideon [YOUNG GIDEON] He needs nothing from me It's now or never, Meg. Come with me – please, I'm begging you [YOUNG MEG] Gideon… I can't go [YOUNG GIDEON] And I can't stay... I'll be back for ye, I promise [YOUNG MEG] You say that now [YOUNG GIDEON] I'll find us a berth At the end of the earth I promise [YOUNG MEG] You promise [YOUNG GIDEON] I promise [COMPANY] This dream, this dream of a ship in the world That would carry his soul to the sea To a place he could never be found To a place far away from this town A Newcastle ship without coals He would sail, he would sail He would sail, he would sail He would sail to the island of souls