An historical retelling of the tragic WWII loss of the steamship 'City of Benares' in September 1940. The ship was sunk by a German submarine and resulted in the loss of 260 people including 83 children being evacuated to Canada under the Children's Overseas Reception Board (CORB) program.
Words and music: Ellenwood, Brain, Gillard, Henning, Kennedy
Produced by Deborah Holland and Headlong Hearts
Engineered by Emily Ryan
Additional engineering and mixing by Mark Henning
Mastered by Graemme Brown
Recorded at Rain City Recorders and Boutique Empire Studio in the spring and summer of 2024.
Lyrics
There's a river of danger
flying up the Thames
And Tommy Atkins
Is watching over the houses of his friends
And God Save The King
Will ring in the tube tonight
As the City of Benares
Lies beneath the sea
Lenny is sleeping
Rests his head against the cabin wall
His sister is thinking
Two more weeks and we'll be safe in Montreal
And God Save The King
Will ring in the tube tonight
As the City of Benares
Sinks beneath the sea
Hand in hand they're walking
past the ruin of their school
Through the smoke and ashes
Down to the docks of Liverpool
And God Save The King
Will ring in the tube tonight
As the City of Benares
Sails across the sea
And God Save The King
Will ring in the tube tonight
As the City of Benares
Lies beneath the sea
