I also agree that Mike O'Connon's song "Carrying Nelson Home" is a wonderful song and tribute.

But I'm left wondering what the phrase "Ease the bowspring" in the first line means. I'm not aware of any line on a vintage ship of that era called a "bowspring." It's true that such ships anchored to defend themselves in a harbor were often attached by "springlines" to various anchors so that they could be maneuvered, shifted around to maintain a broadside to the enemy. I don't think that kind of "bowspring" makes sense in this song. Another thought is that "bowspring" is supposed to be a mooring line, i.e., cast off from the wharf. Or maybe it's another word for anchor cable but one either "slips the cable" or hauls in the cable with the anchor.

So do any of the more knowledgeable nautical Mudcatters care to clarify "bowspring" in this song?

One of my bandmates is quite taken with this song and he'd prefer to be singing something that makes nautical sense.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble