[Verse 1: Heroic operatic male lead, chiming guitars] Thirty-one years on the point with the gulls and the gale Wound the clock, trimmed the wick, never missed, never failed Then they put a box in the tower that blinks on its own Gave me a plaque and a pension and sent me back home Now I sit by the window and I watch it from the shore Sweepin' its white arm out like I swept it before Thought my work was over, thought the sea had let me be Till the wind came howlin' for the boats and for me [Chorus: Heroic operatic male lead, full and ringing] I will keep the light till you are home Through the black and the rain and the bone-white foam Every step of this tower, every turn of the stone I will keep the light till you are home [Verse 2: Heroic operatic male lead, the toms battering] Worst storm of the year and the tower goes dark Not a flicker, not a beam, not a single spark Harbor radio's cracklin', the Marisol's still out Four men past the rocks and the captain's voice in doubt Pull my oilskin on and I take the old brass lamp Two hundred and eleven steps, and every step is damp Knees like rusted hinges and a heart that's beatin' wild I am climbin' like a young man, I am climbin' like a child [Chorus: Heroic operatic male lead, full and ringing] I will keep the light till you are home Through the black and the rain and the bone-white foam Every step of this tower, every turn of the stone I will keep the light till you are home [Bridge: Heroic operatic male lead, lens turning, voice climbing each sweep] Turn, old lens, turn Let the oil and the old flame burn Over the rocks and over the swell Turn, old lens, and ring like a bell [Verse 3: Heroic operatic male lead, climbing higher] All night long I crank it with my shoulders and my hands Every sweep across the water like a rope to where they stand Dawn comes gray and ragged and the wind is runnin' thin And around the point the Marisol is limpin', comin' in Four men on the deck and they are wavin' at the tower I am sittin' on the stairs and I am cryin' for an hour [Chorus: Heroic operatic male lead, full and ringing] I will keep the light till you are home Through the black and the rain and the bone-white foam Every step of this tower, every turn of the stone I will keep the light till you are home [Outro: Heroic operatic male lead, last note held as the guitars ring out] Till you are home [End]
