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There's a night we will remember
through the swiftly passing years,
For it's written in our mem'ry
with a flood of countless tears;
'Twas the fourteenth of October
back in nineteen forty-two,
When a German sub lay waiting
for the S.S. Caribou.
When she sailed from Sydney Harbour
on the way to Port aux Basques,
Now the night was dark and quiet
and the sea was smooth as glass;
And accompanied by the Grandmere
on her ninety-six mile trip,
For they knew she was a target
as a reserve transport ship.
And the Caribou was steaming
'Cross the gulf in waters blue,
Forty miles from shore, a torpedo's roar --
And it was the end, they knew,
For the S.S. Caribou.
It was early morning hours
when the German U-boat struck,
And the Caribou was crippled,
she had run clean out of luck;
As the water flowed in through her
like a swiftly rushing tide,
Crew and passengers were scrambling
in an effort to survive.
They discovered that some lifeboats
had been smashed to useless wrecks,
As the swirling icy waters came
a-sweeping o'er the decks;
There was terror and great panic
in the hearts of everyone,
And in just a few short minutes
was the German vict'ry won.
And the Caribou was steaming
'Cross the gulf in waters blue,
Forty miles from shore, a torpedo's roar --
And it was the end, they knew,
For the S.S. Caribou.
On the rafts and in the lifeboats
they were shaking with the cold,
Some remained out in the water
with a trailing rope to hold;
Singing hymns to boost their spirits
through the long and chilly night,
Hours later they were rescued
in the early morning light.
And the numbers said
one hundred thirty-seven people gone,
But the mem'ry of each victim will
for evermore live on;
And a tribute should be given
to the brave heroic crew,
Only one survived the sinking
of the S.S. Caribou.
And the Caribou was steaming
'Cross the gulf in waters blue,
Forty miles from shore, a torpedo's roar --
And it was the end, they knew,
For the S.S. Caribou.
