The Marginal Basin Song by Chris Stillman

(melody: Lead us on, thou Heavenly Father)



On a margin runs a canyon down into the ocean dark;

There's a basin slowly filling with detritus from the arc.



Refrain: For the drifting causes rifting,

Opens basins mighty fine

Which strike-slip will close in time.



With volcanics there's no problem; they're erupting all the time;

Fill the thin with pillow lavas, sheeted dikes and serpentine.



Rising slowly from the ocean filled with gritties coarse and fine,

Are you fore-arc? Are you anti-arc? Are you just a geosyncline?