Lyr Req: The Downeaster 'Alexa' (Billy Joel)

Subject: down eastern alexa
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 03:11 PM

Billy Joel song... a great folk song, if I've ever heard one...

Little help?

;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: down eastern alexa
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 11:16 PM

No one?

I'm shocked!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DOWNEASTER 'ALEXA' (Billy Joel)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 02:12 AM

Aw, you caught me sleepin', Clinton. Actually, I couldn't get through most of the day due to ISP problems (Microsoft Network - grrrr....)

"Downeaster Alexa" is a great song; and I like it more now, since I recently travelled that area. I don't recognize all of the place names, but the ones I know are on Long Island Sound. For $38 I took the P.T. Barnum ferry across the Sound in November - wondering if I was one of those who was "born every minute." There was a great view from the ferry, and it saved me a lot of nasty New York driving.
I found the lyrics at this site: http://www.rhx.com/tid/joel/albuminfo/index.html
-Joe Offer-

---

The Downeaster "Alexa"
(Billy Joel, 1989)

Well I'm on the Downeaster "Alexa"
And I'm cruising through Block Island Sound
I have chartered a course to the Vineyard
But tonight I am Nantucket bound

We took on diesel back in Montauk yesterday
And left this morning from the bell in Gardiner's Bay
Like all the locals here I've had to sell my home
Too proud to leave I worked my fingers to the bone

So I could own my Downeaster "Alexa"
And I go where the ocean is deep
There are giants out there in the canyons
And a good captain can't fall asleep

I've got bills to pay and children who need clothes
I know there's fish out there but where God only knows
They say these waters aren't what they used to be
But I've got people back on land who count on me

So if you see my Downeaster "Alexa"
And if you work with the rod and the reel
Tell my wife I am trolling Atlantis
And I still have my hands on the wheel

Now I drive my Downeaster "Alexa"
More and more miles from shore every year
Since they told me I can't sell no stripers
And there's no luck in swordfishing here

I was a bayman like my father was before
Can't make a living as a bayman anymore
There ain't much future for a man who works the sea
But there ain't no island left for islanders like me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: down eastern alexa
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 05:30 AM

One of my favourites, I heard it via Show of Hands. If you need the chords also then you can find them on a web site turnstiles
Which is a billy joel chords & lyrics site.

Kris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: down eastern alexa
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 05:33 AM

Ha! looking at that frontpage I can't see where it links to the page with the actual song links on it, so here is the page you really want:

Billy Joel

Kris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: down eastern alexa
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 10:42 AM

Cool beans beans!

ta' very much eh!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: down eastern alexa
From: Barry Finn
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 12:51 PM

Hi Joe, it's a good thing you weren't on the ferry the other night, they ran agound on a sand bar & had to stay. The rescue boats couldn't get near them caue of the ice, they had to get an ice breaker & then pull them off. Then again there were reports that every one was kept happy on snacks & booze. Barry