MORNING SHANTY
Author: Sharyn Dimmick


Won't you come down to the shore?
Chorus: Watching
I will sail away once more
Chorus: In the morning

We have sung through half the night
Chorus: Watching
For the coming of the light
Chorus: In the morning

For the friends who now have gone
Chorus: Watching
For the friends returning home
Chorus: In the morning

But the clock upon the wall
Chorus: Watching
Steals the time and gives it all*
Chorus: To the morning

At my window I will be
Chorus: Watching
For your ships to sail to me
Chorus: In the morning


Composed by my dear friend Sharyn Dimmick on May 26, 1986 while taking the Anacortes ferry to Victoria after a late evening singing party at the Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle, Washington.

I originally recorded this song as a solo singing lead myself but I was not satisfied with how it sounded. I thought it might sound nice with Suzanne Friend singing lead with an all women's chorus. The chorus lineup would include Marla Fibish, Patrice Haahn, Sharyn Dimmick, and perhaps one or two other singers. Then Suzanne announced that she would be moving to Eureka, California almost immediately and I had to rethink everything. Suddenly there was no time to schedule rehearsal sessions and Suzanne's imminent move meant that the Out of the Rain songs (The Grimsby Lads and Time Ashore is Over) needed to be finished as soon as possible so we recorded Morning Shanty at the same time with Marla, Patrice, and myself as the chorus.
Suzanne's interpretation of Morning Shanty is a bit different timing-wise from Sharyn's original version in a couple of places. You can hear Sharyn's recording of her song on her cassette tape I Am You Winter Lover which, I believe, you can only get through her. Sharyn can be reached by e-mail at:


sharyn@usisp.com

Radriano

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Per message from Sharyn Dimmick below, the correct fourth verse is:

But the clock upon the wall
Chorus: Watching
Steals our time and gives it all*
Chorus: To the morning


-Joe Offer-