Lyr Req: Master and Man (Ben Hecht)

Subject: Trying to ID a sea song
From: Dustin Laurence
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 07:14 PM

I was asked about a song apparently too obscure for me, but I
know nothing is too obscure for Mudcat:

    "Wonder if you can help me: looking for a sea song I saw during
    a Seattle visit to a "Titanic" artifacts exibit. May have been
    to the tune of an older shanty; started with " The Captain stood
    where the Captain should, for the law of the sea is grim, the
    owner fled with the women, for no law bothered him," Had the
    words at one time, but being old and forgetful seem to have
    lost them. Can you help me out, from an old sailor to another?
    Greatly appreciated."

So, does anyone recognize this? I didn't get any mudcat or digitrad
hits.

Dustin

Subject: Lyr Add: MASTER AND MAN (Ben Hecht)
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 07:24 PM

MASTER AND MAN

The Captain stood where a Captain should
For the Law of the Sea is grim;
The Owner romped while the ship was swamped
And no law bothered him.

The Captain stood where the Captain should
When a Captain's ship goes down
But the Owner led when the women fled,
For an Owner must not drown.

The Captain sank as a man of Rank,
While his Owner turned away;
The Captain's grave was his bridge and brave,
He earned his seaman's pay.

To hold your place in the ghastly face
of Death on the Sea at Night
Is a Seaman's job, but to flee with the mob
Is an Owner's Noble Right.


From:http://benhechtbooks.net/ben_hechts_titanic_verses
Click
More info there, also.

Subject: RE: Trying to ID a sea song
From: Hollowfox
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 07:27 PM

Dang that's good, Sorcha.

Subject: RE: Trying to ID a sea song
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 07:32 PM

Good catch, Sorcha!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Trying to ID a sea song
From: GUEST,Dustin Laurence
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 07:59 PM

Thanks, Sorcha, that was like lightning. The original questioner
probably just assumed it was a song, since he doesn't seem to
have actually heard it sung, but does anyone know if it ever
acquired a melody? It's a great poem, and if it didn't I'm tempted
to try if no one else will.

Dustin

Subject: RE: Trying to ID a sea song
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 08:33 PM

Filling out in case the website disappears.
Poem by Ben Hecht, 1912. Referring to the Titanic Captain.
Thanks, Sorcha, I had never heard it.

Subject: RE: Trying to ID a sea song
From: Jeri
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 08:52 PM

Dustin, I've never heard the song or seen the poem, but it works to 'Old Maui', 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald' and probably a whole bunch of tunes.

Subject: RE: Trying to ID a sea song
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 11:12 PM

The Tolstoy story, "Master and the Man," is on line: Master and the Man

Subject: RE: Trying to ID a sea song
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 12:04 AM

The poem, plus Jeri's suggestions, have been posted in thread 56212: Master and the Man
Thanks for bringing it up, Dustin.

Subject: RE: Trying to ID a sea song
From: GUEST,Guest (Dustin Laurence)
Date: 30 Jan 03 - 01:26 PM

Thanks again, all. It scans OK for all those tunes but I had
in mind doing something original, just for fun. I have a tune
running around my head for it at the moment.

Dustin