Some of us who were singing at the Press Room yesterday could feel Barry's presence in the room, and even hear him adding strength to the choruses, not to mention strengthening the voices of those who were leading songs. This is not at all surprising to me, or to anyone who spent any amount of time with Barry. There are a couple of reworded verses that keep surfacing in my mind right now, and I guess I better post them, or someone may make it difficult for me to get any sleep:

Inspired by "The Tryphena's Extra Hand" by C. Fox Smith

"Many a year I've sung these songs,
And I've got to like them well,
And I've not much hopes of heaven
And I've not much use for hell:
But if so be as they'll let me,
By the great hook-block I swear,
When I hear you singing shanties,
My voice will be there."

There'll be one more voice at the halyards,
You'll hear me on the yard
Above them thundering courses
When they're frosted good and hard,
One more voice on the forebrace
When the waist's neck deep in foam,
One more voice to sweat the tops'ls up
And sheet t'ga'n's'ls home.

Charley Noble