WHO IS John Maynard? (Theodor Fontane)

[Intro] (Sound: Deep foghorn blast) (Atmosphere: Crackling fire, panic in the distance) [Spoken: Gritty Patois] Yo... Dem ask who keep di wheel when di flames dem a rise? Dem ask who look death straight inna di eyes? John Maynard... di bravest steerman pon di lake. Listen! [Verse 1: Fast Ragga-Rap / Double-time] Steamship "Swallow" sailin' fast pon Eriesee, Suddenly di smoke a rise, oh Lord, mercy! Fire inna di hull, fire inna di deck, Whole heap a people frantic, fearin' fi dem neck! Captain bawl out: "John, yuh deh deh still?" Maynard respond: "Yes Sah, a so it go, I will!" Buffalo deh far, bout thirty mile to go, But di breeze a fanning flames, watch dem burnin' low! [Pre-Chorus: Rising Siren FX] Ten mile... five mile... di heat a get dread, Steel inna him hand, fire 'round him head! [Chorus: Anthemic / Sing-along] WHO IS JOHN MAYNARD? JOHN MAYNARD WAS DI STEERMAN! DI ONE WHO SAVE WI, DI ONE WHO HOLD DI LINE, TILL DI RED HOT IRON BURN HIM HAND FOR ALL TIME! JOHN MAYNARD! [Verse 2: High Energy Jungle Breaks] "John Maynard!", di Captain yell through di smoke, Maynard reply: "I holdin' on, it no joke!" Skin a peel off, hair a ketch a fire, Maynard never move, him courage never tire! Him see di shore, him see di sand inna di night, Him drive di ship to land with all him soul and might! One last turn... di ship ketch di ground, Everybody safe, but John cannot be found! [Chorus: Maximum Energy] WHO IS JOHN MAYNARD? JOHN MAYNARD WAS DI STEERMAN! IM SACRIFICE IM LIFE FI MAKE WI REACH DI LAND, WITH DI STEERING WHEEL LOCK INNA IM BURNIN' HAND! [Outro] (Beat cuts out to crackling flames) (Final mournful Foghorn) [Deep Voice] Respect to di hero. [Whisper] John Maynard... sleep easy. [End]