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Shanty Song

from Forest in the Dark by Elsie White

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lyrics

I've had a dream to go out to sea since the day I could see out. My daddy always told me that there was a fine route through all these islands and down to the open and that's where life would begin. So I've been plottin' and schemin' and savin' myself for when I set sailing.

Girls in the shanties around aren't the same. They like ribbons and sweet pies. I don't care, I'm my own little girl and I'll love the ocean 'til I die.

I sit at the docks when the ships come in, wonderin' and wonderin' and wonderin' where they've been. Someday they'll take me with them. I know I'm ready now. Whatever help they need on board, I know that I could learn how.

Late in the evening when mother's asleep and father is up with his brothers I hear them talking of lands far away, of sights that compare with no others. Like suns that keep setting for days and the way that the dolphins rise out of the water. Then he'll catch me listening and say, "Thelmar Maria, my daughter...

I see you at the docks when the ships come in, wondering and wondering and wondering where we've been. Someday we'll take you along but you're not ready now. You're just a little girl, too small for the stern or the bow. Too small for the bow!"

Well, I love my family and I love my shanty but I need to be on the water. Tomorrow I'll go to the docks and I'll set my stocks on getting aboard her.

I know they'll take me with them. I know I'm ready now. Whatever hand they need on deck, I know that I could learn how. Then I will be where I belong between the wide sky and the waves. Then I will sing a sweet sea song and feel the wind in my face. Wind in my face.

credits

from Forest in the Dark, released January 1, 2012
Elsie White - vocals, guitar
Laura Wanner - concertina
Becca Jones - viola

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Elsie White Chatham, New York

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