Island of Souls

[Modem Butterfly]

Billy was born within sight of the shipyard
First son of a riveter's son
Billy was raised as the ship grew a shadow
A great hull would blot out the light of the sun
And six days a week he would watch his poor father
A working man live like a slave
He'd drink every night and he'd dream of a future
Of money he never would save

Billy would cry when he thought of the future...

Soon came a day when the bottle was broken
They launched the great ship out to sea
He felt he'd been left on a desolate shore
To a future he desperately wanted to flee

What else was there for a shipbuilder's son?
A new ship to be built, new work to be done

One day he dreamed of the ship in the world
It would carry his father and he
To a place they would never be found
To a place far away from this town

Trapped in the cage of the skeleton ship
All the workmen suspended like flies
Caught in the flare of acetylene light
A working man works 'til the industry dies

Billy would cry when he thought of the future...

Then what they called an industrial accident
Crushed those it couldn't forgive
They brought Billy's father back home in an ambulence
Breast watch, a check, maybe three weeks to live

What else was there for a riveter's son?
A new ship to be built, new work to be done

That night he dreamed of the ship in the world
It would carry his father and he
To a place they could never be found
To a place far away from this town
A Newcastle ship without coals.
They would sail to the island of souls.

[Modem Butterfly]

1. This song means a great deal to me

I grew up in a very economically depressed area, where for most the only options were logging, fishing, or joining the military. This song really captures the despair of growing up without options.