Friday, July 13, 2007

Good Ship England

The Good Ship England (1971)
 
One of several songs I have written that use the sea as a backdrop. This one was partially influenced by Melville’s Billy Budd, with its theme of insubordination.  The Vietnam War loomed large as I agonized over whether, like a friend of mine, I would resist and go to jail, or perhaps move to Sweden or Canada. (They never called me.) War, imperialism, obedience, and justice (including poetic justice at the end of the song) are all themes woven into the lyrics.
 
The Good Ship England sails the seas
For many years she’s sailed the seas
She stops at every eastern port to take their gold
 
And at night when the crew of the good ship goes
Off with their women and off with their clothes
A single sailor stays behind and sheds some tears
 
Refrain
Oh the storm on the seas grows stronger now, and seabirds surround
Every captain wants to know what drove his ship underground
 
The captain sent the lad away
And shackled him for 30 days
For no good seaman weeps in doubt about his role
 
And when the ship set sail once more
To rape the farthest foreign shore
The lad said, “Captain turn around and head for home!”
 
Refrain
 
The lad said, “Captain, can’t you see
That what you take from each country
Ebbs your human dignity and leaves them cold”
 
The captain ordered him to hang
For treason to the royal gang
And the very last words to the captain spoke
Were “Curse your bones!”
 
Refrain
 
And when the sailor breathed no more
The fearless crewman roared and roared
And in their joy they could not see the wave come near
 
The ship she dove and did not rise
And every man was drowned alive
300 ships with gold and spice were lost in all
 
Refrain



Posted by paularenson to Mp3
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