IF I HAD WINGS

Ryk Rostron

On this Queensland whaling boat, we made good time at sea
Hoped to be in Brisbane town before the sun had set on me
We worked with hearts as light as air as we moved towards the coast
And we thought about those waiting there; the ones we loved the most.

Chorus :
And if I had wings, I’d fly away home
If I had wings, I could be there now
Well if I had wings, I’d fly o’er the foam
And I’d leave those cold Southern winds to blow.

Six months at sea seems easy now, as it did the day we sailed
From Brisbane town weighed anchor, we set off with no thought to fail
An old hand now on whaling boats, the seventh time we’ve seen
We sail with Captain Ellwell and that bright ship’s company.

Well to catch the whales we searched the Southern oceans cold
But fortune travelled with us as we quickly filled the hold
Another man was lost this trip as through the ice we roam
When in quick time, the captain cried : “Enough! We turn for home.”

That season was the last for me, I paid my dues and settled down
Though I sometimes think of whaling, the boat’s no longer to be found
The stations are all empty now, no huts with coal or fire
The memories fade, the whales are gone, the singing ocean quiet.


Ryk sang this song with the sadly defunct Brisbane bluegrassy band, PIRATE BRIDES, who were very popular both Live and on CD – there were 3 recordings : Walking the Planxty / Cutlass Wedding / Broken Hearts Ride Free.

Members were RYK ROSTRON (lead vocals/guitar/bazouki/mandolin), the late and much-missed JOHN HOLMBERG aka Sailor John (lead vocals/banjo/mandolin/guitar), ROSE BROE (vocals/accordion/ autoharp/keyboard),
MICHAEL TULLY (vocals/upright bass) and later, MARK KARLSEN (vocals/upright bass).

The song features on their 2005 EP “Cutlass Wedding”.   BtW, the few clips of the PBs on YT that I’ve seen, really do not - IMHO, do justice to their many performances ……
However, the song is found at 23:35 on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcviQqURygE


R-J