Here's another suggestion for a song for the memorial service based on a poem by C. Fox Smith. I'm not sure how aware Jonathan was of her sea poems and the recent efforts that have been made to arrange them for singing but I'd like to think he would have been appreciative (copy and paste into Word/Times/12 for chord placement):

(Words by C. Fox Smith in Sea Songs & Ballads © 1924
As sung by Danny & Joyce McLeod on Never a Cross Word, © 2002 Old & New Tradition
Words slightly modified by Charlie Ipcar-8/12/02
Tune by Alan Fitzsimmons
Sing at a brisk pace rather than as a dirge; Key: Gb (6/C))

So Long

Chorus:

C----------Am------------Dm-------C--Dm
All coiled down, an' it's time for us to go;
G-------------------------F--------------C
Every sail's furled in a neat harbour stow;
--------------------Am--------Dm---------C-Dm
Another ship for us, an' for her a-noth-er crew –
----G--------C------G----F------------------G-C
An' so long, sailor-man, here's good luck to you!


Fun an' friends I wish you, till your pay's all gone –
Pleasure while you're spending, satisfaction when you're done –
A chest that's never empty, when you're back to sea,
An' a better ship than she's been, an' a truer pal than me. (CHO)

A good berth I wish you, in a ship that's well found,
With a decent crowd up forrard, an' her running gear all sound,
Spars a man can trust, when it comes on to blow,
An' no bucko mate a-bawlin', when it's your watch below. (CHO)

A good Trade I wish you, an' a fair landfall,
Neither fog nor iceberg, nor long calm, nor squall,
A pleasant port to come to, when your work's all through –
An' so long, sailorman, here's good luck to you. (CHO)

I'll sing it at our Press Room shanty gathering this weekend.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble