Not Drowning but Waving

You saw the clothes and instinctively called for me
You said it was far too cold to swim and he was too far out at sea
But I had the hand of a clock beating me
There was no time to deflate my evening with heroics like these

I don't know what came over me my friendI know I said, 'he's not drowning but waving', but you would not relent
I know my hands are shaking but it's not cowardice again
That stopped me from jumping in
We're stood with water only up to our shins
There is a storm blowing in
Do I have to shoulder this one?
If you wade in, then I'll wade in,
Will I be blamed for this one?
A freezing mist comes rolling in,
I will be blamed for this one

I saw him first, beaten and broken by waves
Straight away, I knew you'd try and convince that he could be saved
So much to prove, you looked a state, It's not my fault that you listened to me
When I said that it was already too late
Afraid you'll turn on me and I'll go down for this
We're both to blame, you know it well
We'll have to shoulder this one
I won't tell, if you don't tell
We'll have to live with this one
A freezing mist comes rolling in
I will be blamed for this one