Boat Friends

November 2006

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Black Moth Super Rainbow: Boatfriend
(Buy: Black Moth Super Rainbow: Falling Through A Field)

For 50 Bucks and a Case of Budweiser

Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador
Late August, 1998

For 50 dollars and a case of Budweiser, this guy took us on a four hour boat tour of Rocky Harbour, a sweet little town in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, at the mouth of Bonne Bay, and just outside of Gros Morne National Park. By the end of our tour, he could barely tell us where we were, as we navigated our way back to town. It was one of the sunniest and funniest days in the three and a half weeks we traveled through the provinces.

The Pogues: Sunny Side of the Street (Buy It!)

Sailing Homeward

But first, dropping anchor (if you know what I mean) with the schooners off Swans Island.
Summer 2006

Heel y'ho boys, let her go, boys
Bring her head round now all together
Heel y'ho boys, let her go boys
Sailing homeward to Mingulay!

What care we tho' white the sea/Minch is?
What care we for wind and weather?
Let her go boys, every inch is
Wearing homeward to Mingulay!

Wives are waiting on the bank, boys,
Looking seaward from the heather.
Pull her 'round boys, and we'll anchor
'Ere the sun sets at Mingulay!

'Mingulay Boat Song', composed by Hugh Roberton (1874 - 1952) in 1938—a good 26 years after Mingulay lost its island community for good. But still, it's a beautiful island, with a beautiful song in its namesake.


Richard Thompson: Mingulay Boat Song (Buy It!)
Dan Zanes: Mingulay Boat Song (Buy It!)

Gotta' Have the (End of Summer) Funk

The Narrows
August 21, 2006

It's late August, and the crickets are out in full force. Year-round residents let out audible sighs of relief, knowing that their Summer-folk aquaintences are beginning the exodus back from whence they came. The grocery store will once again have bread, fish, and wine. It sounds biblical, but it's not—the folks 'from away' just seem to eat it all.

This sweet little ship, and it's captain, are one step closer to their home.

See you next year!

Grand Funk Railroad: I'm Your Captain (Closer To Home) (Buy It!, if you must.)

Aft on the Poop Deck, and Walkin' All About

Rockland Harbor
The Foggy Summer of '06

Aft on the poop deck, and walkin' all about,
There's the second mate, so steady and so stout.
What he's a-thinkin', he knows not himself,
We're wishin' he would hurry up and strike, strike the bell.

Strike the bell, second mate, let us go below,
Look you well to windward you can see it's going to blow!
Look at the glass, you can see that it has fell,
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell!

Down on the main deck, workin' at the pumps,
There's the starboard watch, just a-longin' for their bunks.
Lookin' off to windward, they see a great swell,
They're wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike the bell.

Aft at the wheel, poor Andersen stands,
Clutchin' at the spokes with his cold, mittened hands.
Lookin' at the compass head the course is true and well,
He's wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike the bell.

For'ard at the fo'cs'le head, keepin' sharp lookout,
There's Johnny standin', a-ready for to shout,
The lights are burnin' bright, sir, everything is well,
We're wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike the bell.

Aft on the quarterdeck, our gallant captain stands,
Lookin' at the sea with a spyglass in his hand.
What he's a-thinkin', we all know very well,
He's thinkin' more of short'nin' sail than--strike the bell.

-Traditional

Dan Zanes: Strike The Bell (Buy It!)