The Thresher Lyrics - Phil Ochs

In Portsmouth town 

On the eastern shore 

Where many a fine ship was born 

The Thresher was built 

And the Thresher was launched 

And the crew of the Thresher was sworn 

She was shaped like a tear 

She was built like a shark 

She was made to run fast and free 

And the builders shook their hands 

And the builders shared their wine 

Thought that they had mastered the sea 

Yes, she'll always run silent 

And she'll always run deep 

Though the ocean has no pity 

Though the waves will never weep 

They'll never weep 

And they marveled at her speed 

And they marveled at her depth 

And they marveled at her deadly design 

And they sailed to every land 

And they sailed to every port 

Just to see what faults they could find 

Then they put her on the land 

For nine months to stand 

And they worked on her from stem to stern 

But they could never see 

It was their coffin to be 

For the sea was waiting for their return 

Yes, she'll always run silent 

And she'll always run deep 

Though the ocean has no pity 

Though the waves will never weep 

They'll never weep 

On a cold Wednesday morn 

They put her out to sea 

When the waves they were nine feet high 

And they dove beneath the waves 

And they dove to their graves 

And they never said a last goodbye 

And it's deeper and deeper 

And deeper they dove 

Just to see what their ship could stand 

But the hull gave a moan 

And the hull gave a groan 

And they plunged to the deepest darkest sand 

Now she lies in the depths 

Of the darkened ocean floor 

Covered by the waters cold and still 

Oh, can't you see the wrong? 

She was a death ship all along 

Died before she had a chance to kill 

And she'll never run silent 

And she'll never run deep 

For the ocean had no pity 

And the waves they never weep 

They never weep