Lyr Req: Take Your Pay (Jerry Cronin)

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Sailing Songs
From: Gareth
Date: 03 Aug 01 - 03:57 PM

There's an old saying in the industry - "ships and frieght rates sink together" - unfortunately it's still true.

Gareth

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Sailing Songs
From: Shields Folk
Date: 03 Aug 01 - 03:45 PM

Flags of convenience, enough said!

Subject: Lyr Add: TAKE YOUR PAY^^
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Aug 01 - 03:38 PM

Found on Dramtreeo's page at Southern Branch Music's Web site:

TAKE YOUR PAY
(Jerry Cronin, © Southern Branch Music, BMI)

Kiss your wives. Kiss your sweethearts goodbye.
Kiss your sons and daughters too.
You're going to sail on a cargo line.
Not sure if you'll be coming through.
The hull she is rust and the hatches all sprung.
Six snatch blocks just to get one down,
And if that patch in the starboard side gives,
Well, boys, we're all going to drown.

CHO: But take your pay, take your pay.
There isn't much work to be had today.
American shipping, it ain't much any more,
Sailing those ships from the Second World War.

She headed out with a cargo of coal,
Sailed past Chesapeake Light
The mate on watch, he looked out at the waves,
Said, "Boys, we're in for a long night."
He tried to keep her bow to the swell,
Prayed that God would show him how,
But there isn't much help from the heavens or from hell.
You can't steer when you're down by the bow. CHO.

She went down but they don't know why.
Three men was all that made it through.
The company cried, "She never should have sailed,"
But what was the Master to do?
American ships with convenient flags
All have their jobs to be done,
And if one man says that he won't sail today,
There's money will buy another one. CHO.

Kiss your wives. Kiss your sweethearts goodbye.
Kiss your sons and daughters too.
You're going to sail on a cargo line.
Not sure if you'll be coming through. CHO.

["In February of 1983 the Marine Electric sank during a Winter storm off the Virginia Capes. The poor condition of the collier and the tragic loss of 32 of the 35-man crew prompted Jerry to write this song." Recorded by Dramtreeo on "Dramtreeo," 1984. @disaster @sea JTD]

Subject: Lyric Req: Sailing Songs
From: Bill White
Date: 17 Jun 97 - 09:20 PM

I'm looking for the lyrics to a song I heard on Public Radio. The chorus goes something like:

Take your pay, take your pay, There isn't much work to be had today.

American Shipping it ain't much anymore, sailing those ships from the second world war.

Any help is, as always greatly appreciated.