[Intro: boots, concertina, voices joining] One sees wind and one sees sail, One sees traffic down the rail. One feels pressure, one feels speed, Each one sees what others need. [Three-Part Harmony] ONE BOAT! ONE BEAT! EVERY HAND AND EVERY SHEET! BOW TO STERN, WE PLAY OUR PART, MANY HANDS, ONE RACING HEART! [Verse 1: gritty baritone] Helm keeps driving, smooth and fast, Tactics reads the breeze ahead. Trimmers feel each pressure change, Bow keeps watch beyond the stem. Weather side calls every puff, "Pressure coming!" That's enough. Leeward eyes keep watch below, "Boat to lee!" and now we know. No one sees the whole damn race, Each one sees a different place. One clear call goes down the line, Ten quick hands respond in time. [Chorus: three-part harmony] ONE BOAT! ONE BEAT! EVERY HAND AND EVERY SHEET! PUFF GETS CALLED AND TRIM RESPONDS, TEN GOOD SAILORS MOVING AS ONE! ONE CALL HERE, ONE MOVEMENT THERE, NEXT HAND'S READY EVERYWHERE! BOW TO STERN, WE PLAY OUR PART, MANY HANDS, ONE RACING HEART! [Verse 2: instruments begin interlocking] Puff gets called before it lands, Trim is waiting in their hands. Pressure rises, traveler goes, Pressure fades and home she flows. Traffic called before it's near, Helm has room and course stays clear. Tactics finds the better lane, Bow looks forward once again. Pit makes ready, mast is set, Lines run clean across the deck. Nothing hurried, nothing late, Every sailor anticipates. [Three-Part Harmony] SEE IT COMING! MAKE IT FLOW! HAND IT OFF AND LET IT GO! [Verse 3: flowing, warmer] That's the beauty when it's right, Every movement smooth and light. One move ends, the next begins, Sheets run free and winches spin. Line comes loose, a hand is there, Next move waiting everywhere. No one needs to run the show, Everyone just seems to know. No great hero saves the day, No grand speech to lead the way. Just a hundred little things, Flowing clean from hands to strings. [Chorus: fuller harmony] ONE BOAT! ONE BEAT! EVERY HAND AND EVERY SHEET! ONE MOVE ENDS, THE NEXT BEGINS, SHEETS RUN FREE AND WINCHES SPIN! CALL THE PUFF! CALL BELOW! PASS THE WORD AND LET IT FLOW! TWENTY EYES AND TWENTY HANDS, ONE WELL-TUNED AND SALTY BAND! [Verse 4: rail section, heavier stomps] Lines are clear, your hands are free, Still a place you're meant to be. Windward rail has room to spare, Take your useful backside there. Feet outboard and shoulders wide, Move your weight to weather side. Pressure builds and heel comes on, Bodies out and heel is gone. No one idle, none apart, Weight is just another part. Nothing to pull? Then join the rail, Lean together, flatten sail! [Three-Part Harmony] NOTHING TO PULL? GET ON THE RAIL! LEAN OUT HARD AND FIGHT THE HEEL! [Baritone] Every sailor earns their ale... [Low Harmony] Some with rope. [Upper Harmony] Some on rail. [Three-Part Harmony] EVERYBODY HELPS HER SAIL! [Verse 5: comic contrast] Then some days we lose the dance, Everybody sees their chance. Three rush forward, two rush back, Four arrive to help one tack. Five good hands reach for one line, While another swings behind. Everyone has come to aid... [Low Harmony] Who was doing your job, mate? [Baritone] Ah. No one's lazy, that's the trick, Everyone is helping quick. But ten good sailors cannot win If all ten hands grab the same damn thing. [Three-Part Harmony] ONE HAND HERE! ONE HAND THERE! TRUST THE HAND THAT'S ALREADY THERE! [Bridge: stripped back, graceful pulse] When it's right, the boat grows still, Not from silence, not from luck. Puff is called, the trim responds, Weight moves out and she drives on. Traffic comes, the word runs through, Each already knows what to do. Bow moves forward, pit moves in, Sheet runs free and grinders spin. Separate parts but one intent, Every motion complement. Different eyes and different hands, One crew reading wind and plans. [Build: overlapping voices] PUFF TO WEATHER! BOAT BELOW! PRESSURE BUILDING! ROOM TO GO! LINES ARE READY! BOW IS CLEAR! WEIGHT TO WEATHER! MARK IS NEAR! [All Voices] ONE BOAT! ONE BEAT! ONE CREW MOVING ON ITS FEET! [Final Chorus: maximum harmony] ONE BOAT! ONE BEAT! EVERY HAND AND EVERY SHEET! PUFF GETS CALLED AND TRIM RESPONDS, TEN GOOD SAILORS MOVING AS ONE! ONE MOVE HERE! ONE HAND THERE! NEXT MOVE READY EVERYWHERE! NOTHING TO PULL? GET ON THE RAIL! LEAN OUT HARD AND FIGHT THE HEEL! NO ONE WINS THIS THING ALONE, EVERY HAND MUST BRING HER HOME! TWENTY EYES AND TWENTY HANDS, ONE PERFECT BLOODY RACING DANCE! BOW TO STERN, WE PLAY OUR PART, MANY HANDS... [silence] ONE RACING HEART! [Outro: effortless sailing groove] [Baritone] You know a crew is good when nobody looks particularly busy. No heroes. No panic. Just everyone somehow being where they're needed before they're needed. [spoken: confused] I've got nothing to do. [Response] GET ON THE RAIL! [All Voices] ONE BOAT! ONE BEAT! [End]
