Yes, I know this song is in the DT but my question is whether the lyrics are what Kaplan composed. Here's what's in the DT:

SONG FOR GALE

(Words and music by Larry Kaplan
Written for E. Gale Huntington of Martha's Vineyard
Copyright Larry Kaplan 1988, BMI)

Blue skies, south wind, fish jumpin' in your hand
What a day to be working old Nantucket Sound
From the islands into the mainland;
Worn out, smelling of bait,
You'd come home by the end of the day
And the sun over West Chop,
Those warm summer breezes
Made you think it would never change.

Chorus:

Get me my fiddle we'll sing all the old songs
Now you take the high notes, and I'll sing the low
Good times and hard times, they're worth all the telling –
It won't matter to me if you sing 'em that well.

I remember the time when you worked for a living
Pulling hard just to get back to shore
When you busted your back or you just wouldn't eat
They don't talk much of that anymore;
When you sat with the old folks, fell asleep from their stories,
Stayed awake with the howling winds;
Sang your songs till the children were all tucked away warm,
And the night tides come rollin' back in.

(repeat first verse)

Here is how I'm transcribed Bob Zentz singing this song, which has some major changes which may be part of my confusion:

SONG FOR GAYLE (Sic)

(Words and music by Larry Kaplan
Written for E. Gale Huntington of Martha's Vineyard
Copyright Larry Kaplan 1988, BMI
As sung by Bob Zentz on BOB ZENTZ: Hove-to and Drifting, © 1999)

Blue skies, south wind, fish jumpin' into your hand
What a time to be working old Nantucket Sound,
From the island into the mainland;
Worn out, smelling of bait,
You'd come in when the wind drove you home,
And the sun over West Chop,
Those warm summer breezes,
Made you think that it never could change.

Chorus:

So get me my fiddle, we'll sing all the old songs
You take the high notes, and I'll sing the low
Good times and hard times, they're all worth the telling –
It don't matter to me if you sing 'em that well.

Oh, I remember the days when you worked for a living,
Pulling hard just to get back to shore
And you busted your back till you just couldn't eat
They don't talk much of that anymore. (CHO)

I stayed awake with the old folks, fell asleep to their stories,
Sang songs in the howlering wind;
Told stories till the children were all tucked away warm,
And the night tide came rollin' back in. (CHO)

I'm thinking of singing this song at a memorial service and I'd appreciate any feedback on Kaplan's original version.

Charley Noble