The Ships

The Ships

2005, 05:00

Two Voices and Marimba

Written for Tatiana Koleva for March Music Days, Bulgaria

POST-the-Ships

Tatiana Koleva

Programme notes

Written as an alternative coda to my percussion concerto “The Longitude Act of 1714,” commissioned by Tatiana Koleva. We decided that since I would be traveling to the premiere in Sofia, we might as well as something do together on the concert. Since the subject of the concerto was the perils of sailing and navigation in the 18th century, I thought it might be nice to finish with a more personal slant on the subject.

Lyrics

Sailor:
Come away, fellow sailors
our anchors rise with the sun
take one last ride on that salty fil
whose heart you have won
and silence her mourning
with vows of returning once more
Tho’ those loveless waves will never set us back
on King George’s shore

Maiden:
Rise up, slumbering sailors
your anchors rise with the sun
Tonight brings yet another crew
whose coin have yet to be spun
we’ll wave you off this morning
we’ll long to hold you once more
Tho’ those loveless waves will never set you back
on King George’s shore

Sailor:
Ale soaked brain
Chowder in the gut
We sail in the morning
without maiden or mutt

Gin and molasses
bread, water and fuel
beef for the captain
for the rest of us gruel

Forty days in St. Helens to mend a broken ship
no sailor here with a farthing left, no man without a busted lip

Together:
Lassies in spades
cabin boys, too
They’re all climbin’ the masts
of the Centurion crew

Sailor:
Ale soaked brain
Chowder in the gut
The last to pull a blade
is the first one cut

The love of sweet Jesus must shine down on my stake
the last three ships that left these port sailed to a watery wake

Maiden:
Pack it in your carpet bag
the tide won’t wait
you sail ’round the Cape
looking for Spanish freight

Together:
Salty cold night wind
man frozen in the nest
you can die a hundred ways
when your east turns west

Crew half starved
Captain playin’ chess
you can die a hundred ways
when your east turns west

The charts pointed higher but the charts was wrong
Fifteen hundred men. missed Manila and drown

Sailor:
I’m climbin’ up the mizzen
not a damn gull in view
I’m climbin’ up the mizzen
I’m climbin’ to you

Sailor:
Come away,

Maiden:
Rise thee up,

Together:
Fellow sailors
six anchors rise with the sun
out of sight, out of mind for the day is done
We’ll part, grieving, this morning
we’ll long to replay it once more
Tho’ those loveless waves will never set me (you) back
on King George’s shore
Tho’ those loveless waves will never set me (you) back
on King George’s shore