The Penguins Watched us

 We came ashore on the frozen sand 

With a knife in one and a fire in hand 

There were birds stood round like they owned the place 

With a black coat on and a foolish face  

We took the first and we struck him clean 

And the rest just watched what we’d done to him 

Not a step, not a flap, not a sound at all 

Just a line of eyes in the drifting squall 

Oh the penguins watched us, one by one 

(HEY!) As we worked through the cold with a blade and a gun 

(HA!) They didn’t run and they didn’t fuss 

Just stood there staring… like judging us  

Oh the penguins watched us, black and white 

(HEY!) Through the long cold day and the longer night 

And I swear by God on the frozen sea 

They knew more than they let us see

We said, “Well lads, they’re an easy take” 

Not a feather moved when the necks did break 

But the strangest thing that I ever saw 

Was the ones still standing without a flaw  

One leaned close like he’d take a look 

At the blood on the ice and the hand that shook 

Then he turned his head like he’d seen enough 

But he never ran… and that’s the rough  

Oh the penguins watched us, one by one 

(HEY!) As we worked through the cold with a blade and a gun 

(HA!) They didn’t run and they didn’t cry 

Just stood there watching their brothers die  

Oh the penguins watched us, still and straight 

(HEY!) Like they’d seen this done at another date 

And I swear those birds in the freezing gust 

Knew something more… than they gave to us 

Now I’ve seen men freeze and I’ve seen men fall 

And I’ve seen strange things in the southern squall 

But I’ve never seen nor will again 

A bird look back… like it judged a man  

We lit the fires with the oil and skin 

And the heat came slow, but it settled in 

And we laughed and ate like men will do 

When the cold gets deep and the work gets through  

But I turned once more to the edge of the light 

And they’re still all there in the blowing white 

Just standing quiet where the dark winds cut

 Like they knew… what we were… and what we’re not  

Oh the penguins watched us, one by one 

(HEY!) Through the endless cold and the dying sun 

We took what we could just to stay alive 

And they stood there watching… the way we survive  

Oh the penguins watched us, black and white 

(HEY!) Through the frozen days and the endless night 

And I swear by God on the open sea 

They saw something… we’ll never be