Mysha-

"the south'ard" was just the way that old-time sailors pronounced "southward." Why they didn't simply say "South" is not to be reasoned out. CFS was a master at channeling sailor slang into her poems. There were many old salt admirers of her verses who could not believe that she wasn't a sailing master herself.

"St. Paul Rock" was a major reference point for sailing ship masters heading south from England for Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope, who would like to periodically check their navigation via landmarks, such as isolated islands of known location.

When you do record this one, please send me a copy so we can add it to the CFS Discography.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble