I love songs that fill in the gaps of our nautical history.

This fine song was composed by Ron Baxter from information he received from a former crew member of the SS Clan Alpine, a cargo steamer that steamed back and forth between England and the Far East. With Ron's encouragement I've set it to a tune, lengthened the chorus, and changed a few other words (copy and paste into WORD/TIMES/12 to line up chords):

By Ron Baxter, © All rights reserved
Charlie Ipcar 2/10/10
Tune: after "Cole Younger"

The SS Clan Alpine

C---F----C----------------F---------------C--------G-C--G
For the Clan Alpine, in Chittagong, it was her fi-nal run;
-----------F-------------G---C----------------------------F--C--G
She was heading for the "breakers yard" way over in Tai-wan,
---------F--------------------C-------------F---------------G---C
But the monsoon it came early, Force 9, with a roll-ing swell–
------------F---------------C--------------------------G-----------C
From the Bengal Bay it raced its way, now her story I will tell.

--------F--C------------------F------------------C--------G--C--G
Well, her Master rang for half ahead, both anchors he had laid,
------F-------------G--C-----------------------------------F--C-G
But still she start-ed dragging, and the Chief called up a-fraid,
-F--------------------C----------------------F-------------G-----C
"We've lost water suction, though I 'm sure I don't know how."
------F--------------------------C--------------------------G------------------C
"I'll tell you why," was the Captain's cry, "we've a palm tree on the bow!"


Chorus

C-------F---------------C
We'd a palm tree on the bow,
---F---------------G---C
If you could see her now,
------F----------------------C--------------------G
And through that paddy field ploughed her keel (ploughed her keel);
C--------F------------------C
We'd a palm tree on the bow;
------------F--------------C
We could only wonder how,
--------F-------------------C-----------------G
When we looked out it really seemed un-real;
--------F-------------------G-----------------C
When we looked out it really seemed un-real.


So, one mile from the river, when the water it went down,
Hard and fast in a paddy field the Clan Alpine was found;
Then a magistrate accosted us, on the mast he nailed a writ,
Though it sounds surreal, "for importing steel without the right permit!" (CHO)

Then the farmer to the owners he sent his just demand:
Rent for our grounded ship that was parked all on his land!
So they sold her to the breakers, her fate was duly sealed;
Now there's no sign of the Clan Alpine in that paddy field! (CHO)

Here are the original words and notes:

By Ron Baxter, © All rights reserved

The SS Clan Alpine

The Clan Alpine, in Chittagong, it was her final run
She was heading for the 'breakers' out there in Taiwan
But the monsoon it came early, Force 9, with a rolling swell–
From the Bengal Bay, it raced her way, now her story I will tell.

Chorus:

She'd a palm tree on the bow, a palm tree on the bow,
And through a paddy field ploughed her keel, with a palm tree on the bow.

Her Master rang for half ahead, and both anchors he had laid
But still she started dragging, and the Chief said "I'm afraid–
We've lost water suction, though I cannot tell you how."
"I'll tell you why!" the Captain cried "we've a palm tree on the bow!"

One mile from the river, when the water it went down,
Hard and fast in that paddy field the Clan Alpine was found.
Then a 'Jobs worth' he arrested them, on the mast he nailed a writ,
Though it sounds surreal, for importing steel without the right permit!

And of course the farmer from the owners did demand
Rent for the grounded ship that they'd parked on his land!
There they sold her to the breakers so her fate was signed and sealed
So now there's no trace of Clan Alpine now in that paddy field! (CHO)

Notes:

According to Baxter this incident actually happened in 1961 when the SS Clan Alpine became stranded in a paddy field during a typhoon near Karnaphuli River, East Pakistan.

Here's a link to my website where you can see a photo of the SS Clan Alpine high and dry in the paddy field, and access a MP3 sample of how I sing this song: click here for lyrics and MP3 Sample!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble