Well, I just beta tested this song at our local coffeehouse and did some more tinkering with the assistance of my wife, primarily with the last verse:

CAPTAIN BAILEY'S MISTAKE

(Words by Charlie Ipcar and Judy Barrows © 2001
After a news story by Bruce Kyle
Bangor Daily News, 9/16/95
Original event occurred near Lubec, Maine, in 1809
Tune: after Ian Robb's "The Old Rose & Crown" © 1977)

Good friends gather round, and the truth I'll relate,

How a cove near Lu-bec became Bailey's Mis-take;

Now there was a bold captain whose name was Bai-ley,

And his ship ended up where 'twas not s'possed to be.


Chorus:


So here's to our captain, where e'r he may be,

A friend to the sailor on land and on sea;

Ye mariners all, weigh the risks that ye take,

Lest you be remembered like Bailey's Mistake.


He set sail from Boston, Downeast for Lubec,
With a cargo of lumber piled high on the deck;
He skirted Nantucket with nary a fear,
And our crew gave a cheer as the Maine coast drew near. (CHO)

As we closed on Lubec, we was socked in by fog,
But continued to sail by compass and log;
As our ship ghosted in, "Look sharp!" Bailey said,
"You'll soon see the narrows off West Quoddy Head." (CHO)

But, alas, for poor Bailey, no narrows we found,
And in a large cove our ship ran aground;
Said Bailey, "As sailors, there's no way we can win;
Let's unload the lumber, build homes and move in." (CHO)

So let's drink to old Bailey, who sailed the salt sea,
'Till his ship ended up where 'twas not s'possed to be;
He'd be sailing still could he just navigate,
But he's doing quite well selling prime real estate. (CHO)

Cheerily,
Charley Noble