Dawson's Christian

Jayme Dawson was the Captain of the Christian and her crew
And he flew and fought the Christian in the War of '82
Now the Christian was the tightest ship 'tween here and Charlemagne
And the crew of Jayme Dawson was the same

On patrol in sector seven, keeping watch on Barber's Sun
They were jumped by three light cruisers though they weren't a match for one
As they came to general quarters, and they sent out the alarm
Dawson's crew was sure they'd finally bought the farm

No one living saw that battle though the fleet was quick to leave
When they reached the site they found a scene no sane man could believe
Dead in space lay three light cruisers, cut to ribbons all around
But no sign of Dawson's Christian could be found

There are stories of the Dutchman, the Celeste, and Barnham's Pride
There are stories of the Horseman and the Lady at his side
But the tale that chills my spirit, more because I know it's true
Is the tale of Jayme Dawson and his crew
Yes, the tale of Dawson's Christian and her crew

I was second mate on Hera's Dream, a freighter of the line
We were shipping precious metals to the colony on Nine
It was on the second watch of that most uneventful flight
When the pirate ships appeared out of the night

Now to me there was no question, for they had us four to one
And you can't fight dirty pirates when your freighter has no gun
So we stood by to be boarded by a party yet unseen
When another ship appeared upon our screen

First we thought it just a pirate, but the vector was all wrong
Then we thought it might be rescue, but the signal wasn't strong
When she didn't answer hailing, we all felt an unknown dread
For we saw her shields were up and glowing red

Now the courage of that single ship is shown by very few
But we never knew a ship could fly the way the stranger flew
Never fearing guns or numbers, like a tiger to its meat
The stranger then attacked the pirate fleet

And the stranger's beams burned brighter than all beams I'd seen before
And the stranger's shields were harder than the heart of any whore
As the battle rent the aether, while we watched and shook our heads
The pirate ships were cut to bloody shreds
The pirate ships were cut to bloody shreds

Just as quickly as it started then the fighting was all done
For the pirate fleet was shattered and the stranger's ship had won
Though we tried to call and thank her, not an answer could we draw
Then she dropped her shields and this is what we saw

There were thirty holes clear through her and a gash along one side
And we knew that when it happened, that no crew were left alive
For the markings all said Christian, deep inside us each one knew
'Twas the tomb of Jayme Dawson and his crew

Now instead of flying off, the stranger than began to fade
First the hull, and then the bulkheads as we cowered there afraid
For as the Christian disappeared, the last to slip from view
Were the bones of Jayme Dawson and his crew
Yes, the bones of Jayme Dawson and his crew

There are stories of the Dutchman, the Celeste and Barnham's Pride
There are stories of the Horseman and the Lady at his side
But the tale that chills my spirit, and I swear to God it's true
Is the tale of Jayme Dawson and his crew
Yes, the tale of Dawson's Christian and her crew