Lyr Req: Laverne and Captain Flint (Guy Clark)

Subject: Lyr Req: Laverne and Captain Flint (Guy Clark)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jan 17 - 12:44 AM

This is a song from Guy Clark's 1976 album Texas Cookin' about a girl who ran away with an old sailor. Some lyrics are on the Internet, but they're all not very accurate.

To be exact, there is one single line that I can't understand - the last line in the refrain: "but you saw (???), didn't you, Laverne". I really can't understand what Laverne saw.

Guy Clark & Rodney Crowell - The Ballad of Laverne and Captain Flint

This is from Heartworn Highways. In this video it sounds like "but you saw 'em all, didn't you, Laverne". But it doesn't make sense.

Guy Clark - The Ballad of Laverne and Captain Flint

This is a live version. In this version it sounds like "but you saw him move, didn't you, Laverne". But it doesn't make sense either.

Could anybody shed light on this?

Jason

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BALLAD OF LAVERNE AND CAPTAIN FLINT
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Jan 17 - 12:49 AM

Well, let's start with lyrics from one of "those" lyrics sites and see what we can correct:

"The Ballad Of Laverne And Captain Flint"
(Guy Clark)

Here comes Martha runnin' down the pier
looks like Captain Flint is here
You get the bow and I get the stern
Lord would you look at that, Laverne
Old Flint's got shrimp from the deep blue sea
and buckets of fish for you and me

Old Flint's boat is fine
and she's called the Miss-Inclined
and there's no home port painted on her stern
and they say she's like a ghost
up and down that Texas coast
but you saw him didn't you Laverne

Daddy says Flint is a weird old bird
and what's more I have heard
that his nets are charmed by a woman who knew
how to work that Louisiana voodoo
Laverne get away from that boat you hear
your mama don't want you hangin' round here

Old Flint's boat is fine
and she's called the Miss-Inclined
and there's no home port painted on her stern
and they say she's like a ghost
up and down that Texas coast
but you saw him didn't you Laverne

Martha, Martha won't you tell me please
that it's not Laverne that I see
there on the deck of the Miss-Inclined
with Captain Flint I must be blind
Laverne girl what's the matter with you
old Captain Flint put a spell on you

Old Flint's boat is fine
and she's called the Miss-Inclined
and there's no home port painted on her stern
and they say she's like a ghost
up and down that Texas coast
but you saw him didn't you Laverne

from http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/guyclark/theballadoflaverneandcaptainflint.html - which ain't all that bad.

Here's a link to a studio recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wqKlN4Q_xY

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Laverne and Captain Flint (Guy Clark)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jan 17 - 12:53 AM

I think the problem is on the last line in the refrain. It's clearly not "but you saw him didn't you Laverne"...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Laverne and Captain Flint (Guy Clark)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Jan 17 - 01:07 AM

I'm wondering if it's simply, "But you saw it all, didn't you, Laverne?"
Could be "you saw more


It leaves an interesting mystery....what did Laverne see?

Also in the chorus, it's definitely "no home port painted on the stern" most of the times he sings the chorus. Otherwise, the A-Z lyrics transcription is pretty good.

Subject: ADD: Laverne and Captain Flint (Guy Clark)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Jan 17 - 01:47 AM

Here's my formal transcription:

THE BALLAD OF LAVERNE AND CAPTAIN FLINT
(Guy Clark)

Here come Martha runnin' down the pier,
Lord, it looks like Captain Flint is here;
You get the bow, I get the stern,
Lord would you look at that, Laverne -
Flint's got shrimp from the deep blue sea
And buckets of fish for you and me.

CHORUS
Well, Old Flint's boat is fine and she's called the Miss-Inclined,
And there's no home port painted on the stern;
They say she's like a ghost up and down that Texas coast,
But you saw it all, didn't you, Laverne?

Daddy said Flint is a weird old bird,
And, what's more, I have heard
That his nets are charmed by a woman who knew
How to work that Louisiana Voo-Doo.
Laverne, get away from that boat, you hear?
Your mama don't want you hangin' round here!

[spoken] And Laverne told us, she said:
Old Flint's boat is fine....

Martha, Martha won't you tell me, please,
That it is not Laverne that I see
There on the deck of the Miss-Inclined
With Captain Flint? I must be blind.
Laverne, girl, what's got the matter with you?
Old Captain Flint, he put a spell on you, baby.

CHORUS
Well, Old Flint's boat is fine but she's called the Miss-Inclined
And there's no home port painted on the stern
They say she's like a ghost up and down that Texas coast
But you saw it all, didn't you, Laverne?

Well, Old Flint's boat is fine but she's called the Miss-Inclined
And there's no home ports painted on the stern
They say she's like a ghost up and down that Texas coast
But you saw it all, didn't you, Laverne?

from http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/guyclark/theballadoflaverneandcaptainflint.html - which ain't all that bad. Corrections by Joe Offer.

Here's a link to a studio recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wqKlN4Q_xY

Any other corrections?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Laverne and Captain Flint (Guy Clark)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jan 17 - 05:49 AM

I think he sang different words in the live version and the studio version. Hard to tell what it was.

The interesting thing is that there really is a boat called "Miss Inclined": http://johzi.boatdb.net/boat/miss-inclined-947586.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Laverne and Captain Flint (Guy Clark)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 07 Jan 17 - 05:18 PM

"on her stern" would be appropriate. Ask any sailor.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Laverne and Captain Flint (Guy Clark)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Jan 17 - 05:56 PM

Twue, EBarnacle, but I think the recording says "the."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Laverne and Captain Flint (Guy Clark)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jan 17 - 10:28 PM

In the live version it sounds like "on her stern". And yeah, I believe that's more appropriate.