Other-waters

In the spring of 1519 a Spanish fleet set sail
Cortes told his sailors this mission must not fail
On the eastern shore of Mexico they landed with great dreams
But the hardships of the new world make them restless and weak
Quietly they whispered, “Let's sail back to the life we knew”
But the one who led them there was saying

Burn the ships, we're here to stay

There's no way we could go back
Now that we've come this far by faith
Burn the ships, we've passed the point of no return

Well, the Spanish did stay … but I can hardly believe that they burned the ships because they stayed. After all, they did have to bring the Indian's gold and silver back to the Old World … and if they did burn the ships it was more likely that this was because ships were seen as disposables.

Snappy remarks aside, it was indeed partially true: He ordered all his fleet scuttled (not burned as legend has it), except for one small ship with which to communicate with Spain, effectively stranding the expedition in Mexico and ending all thoughts of loyalty to the Governor of Cuba. Or read more on Hernan Cortes in this story.

Our life is here
So let the ships burn

In the spring of new beginnings a searching heart set sail
Looking for a new life and a love that would not fail
On the shores of grace and mercy we landed with great joy
But an enemy was waiting to steal, kill, and destroy
Quietly he whispers, “Go back to the life you know”
But the one who led us here is saying

Burn the ships, we're here to stay
There's no way we could go back
Now that we've come this far by faith
Burn the ships, we've passed the point of no return
Our life is here
So let the ships burn

Nobody said it would be easy
But the one who brought us here
Is never gonna leave us alone

Burn the ships, we're here to stay
There's no way we could go back
Now that we've come this far by faith
Burn the ships, we've passed the point of no return
Our life is here
So let the ships burn

“Burn The Ships” was written by Steven Curtis Chapman & James Isaac Eliott