[02:06.56] To ride the storm to an empire of the clouds [02:12.53] To ride the storm they climbed aboard their silver ghost [02:20.87] [02:23.48] To ride the storm to a kingdom that will come [02:30.03] To ride the storm and damn the rest... oblivion [02:40.27] Royalty and dignitaries brandy and cigars [02:45.50] Grey lady giant of the skies [02:49.08] You hold them in your arms [02:52.03] The millionth chance they laughed [02:54.97] To take down His Majesty's craft [02:57.76] To India they say, magic carpet float away [03:03.52] An October fateful day... [03:07.66] [03:35.60] Mist is in the trees [03:38.73] Stone sweats with the dew [03:41.93] The morning sunrise red before the blue [03:48.77] Hanging at the mast [03:51.73] Waiting for command [03:54.94] His Majesty's Airship, the R101 [04:01.95] She's the biggest vessel built by man, a giant of the skies [04:07.94] For all you unbelievers the Titanic fits inside [04:14.19] Drum roll tight her canvas skin silvered in the sun [04:20.39] Never tested with the fury with the beating yet to come [04:26.60] The fury yet to come [04:30.23] [04:32.46] In the gathering gloom the storm rising in the west [04:38.06] The coxswain stared into the plunging weather glass [04:45.36] [04:48.74] We must go now [04:50.14] We must take our chance with fate [04:54.44] We must go now [04:56.13] For a politician, he can't be late [05:01.54] [05:03.68] The airship crew awake for thirty hours at full stretch [05:09.38] But the ship is in their backbone [05:12.11] Every sinew every inch [05:15.75] She never flew at full speed [05:18.90] A trial never done [05:22.18] Her fragile outer cover [05:24.96] Her achilles would become [05:28.38] An achilles yet to come [05:34.28] Sailors of the sky [05:37.03] A hardened breed [05:40.01] Loyal to the king and an airship creed [05:46.44] The engines drum [05:49.51] The telegraph sounds [05:52.52] Release the cords that bind us to the ground [05:59.43] Said the coxswain "Sir, she's heavy" [06:02.25] "She'll never make this flight" [06:05.35] Said the captain "Damn the cargo" [06:08.31] "We'll be on our way tonight" [06:11.77] Groundlings cheered in wonder [06:14.78] As she backed off from the mast [06:17.76] Baptizing them her water [06:20.10] From the ballast fore and aft [06:23.97] Now she slips into our past [06:28.81] [12:31.75] Fighting the wind as it rolls you [12:34.59] Feeling the diesels that push you along [12:37.74] Watching the channel below you [12:40.43] Lower and lower into the night [12:43.92] Lights are passing below you [12:46.68] Northern France asleep in their beds [12:50.08] Storm is raging around you [12:52.84] A million to one, that's what he said [12:57.37] [13:38.57] Reaper standing beside her [13:41.46] With his scythe cuts to the bone [13:44.74] Panic to make a decision [13:47.40] Experienced men asleep in their graves [13:50.87] Her cover is ripped and she's drowning [13:53.41] Rain is flooding into the hull [13:57.08] Bleeding to death and she's falling [13:59.63] Lifting gas is draining away [14:04.44] [15:11.78] "We're down lads" came the cry [15:14.72] Bow plunging from the sky [15:17.95] Three thousand horses silent as the ship began to die [15:24.53] The flares to guide her path ignited at the last [15:30.71] The empire of the clouds just ashes in our past [15:37.16] Just ashes at the last [15:41.88] [16:05.27] Here lie their dreams as I stand in the sun [16:10.16] On the ground where they built [16:13.41] And the engines did run [16:16.68] To the moon and the stars [16:20.83] Now what have we done [16:22.79] Oh the dreamers may die but the dreams live on [16:30.74] [16:34.93] Dreams live on... [16:41.13] Dreams live on... [16:46.96] [17:15.07] Now a shadow on a hill [17:18.30] The angel of the east [17:22.01] The empire of the clouds may rest in peace [17:28.41] And in a country churchyard [17:31.72] Laid head to the mast [17:35.93] Eight and forty souls [17:38.51] Who came to die in France [17:43.24]