Such Fun! Thanks Liz. Really enjoyed this one
V1
twelve men set sail
at the crack of dawn
three tall masts rigged
the wind was strong
they sailed swiftly
to the Bearing Sea
there was no place else
they would rather be
V2
they set long black nets
as the sun went down
near the shelf divide
where big fish are found
by deep icy waters
the Aurora glowed
higher in the sky
the Northern star shone
C
fishing the basin
of the Bearing Sea
dangerous cold water
can change rapidly
you need a little courage
strong faith and good luck
whisky for warmth
vodka for cuts
V3
they heard the wind howl
as waves grew high
they tossed and turned
keeling to port side
the deck drank water
they bobbed like a cork
men slid and slipped
one fell overboard
C
fishing the basin
of the Bearing Sea
dangerous cold water
can change rapidly
you need a little courage
strong faith and good luck
whisky for warmth
vodka for cuts
V4
in black wild water
he was never found
they threw out ropes but
he was first to drown
they returned to harbor
nine men aboard
hull full of flounder
three men with the Lord
C
fishing the basin
of the Bearing Sea
dangerous cold water
can change rapidly
you need a little courage
strong faith and good luck
whisky for warmth
vodka for cuts
@nancycunning Mar 2022
This is a great collaboration. Love all those strong images and the story of the voyage and then the driving rhythm and warm singing. Great work.
@matthew62 Mar 2022
These are well-crafted lyrics. The music is very good - curious choice, considering the tragic nature of the tale. The combination reminded me of Monty Python, with their tendency to turn life's tragic ironies into comedic fodder...very interesting and very fun. Hats off to all.
@timfatchen Mar 2022
A swinging sailing/fishing song. The thought of fishing in the Bering Straits, regardless of the wonderful flounder, has always horrified me, surely the Grand Banks were bad enough (thank you, Kipling). A quarter of the crew drowned seems about right....Not sure what the whaling figures were per voyage.
@berni1954 Mar 2022
A fine sea song, interesting contrast between the jolly music and the tragic lyrics.
Putting my pedantic hat on... Can I note this would classify as a forecastle (or fo'c'sle) shanty. That is a song sung as entertainment to tell a tale to the sailors off duty. True shanties were used to give rhythm to a work based task and usually were led by a shanty man who sang a line and the sailors responded with another line as they heaved on whatever line they were heaving on at the time.
@reboog711 Mar 2022
I love the upbeat nature of this. That Chorus would make a great "drunken crowd sing along"... I love it.