26 Jun 09 - 04:35 PM (#2665488) Subject: Lyr Add: John (Larry Kaplan) From: Joe Offer I've been looking for new songs to learn in the 1985 Bok-Muir-Trickett Fashioned in the Clay album. I don't think this one is my style, but I like it. It's a perfect song for Gordon Bok to sing, and he does a good job of it on the album. JOHN (Larry Kaplan, Winter Harbor Music, 1976) Foggy harbor, Cold and wet and not a soul, The boats are lying crooked in the mud. All about the sounds of life are chilled and distant; The kerosene lamps flicker in the night.
We'll drink another round before the night is done. Then it's to your chances, boys, Soon we'll all be leaving, And not a word about the times to come. John comes home to his old boat, all alone. (He's got his stocking-cap pulled down around his ears.) Ten years going and he's worked his hands to stone and leather, Tonight he says he's got to get away. Busted broke, no place to go, that's what he says you get For putting all your time into the sea, Then a man gets old, he says, Too late to settle down, he says, Too late to find a place for company. Rub your hands together... Hear the hulls a-creaking hard against the rocky bottom, Hear the hungry, lonesome singing gulls. Curse those winter winds, The empty dreams that took you in: When you're young enough, you never get your fill. Turn your lanterns up, and throw the big hatch open wide: No man is a stranger in the cold. Throw another log into the stove; the night is young enough, And good friends keep a man from getting old.
We'll drink another round before the night is done. Then it's to your chances, boys, Soon we'll all be leaving, And not a word about the times to come. This is about a friend of ours who devoted his life to a schooner he loved (not his own). He stayed with her summer and winter over the years, while we part—time sailors went our various ways when the year got dark. (But having wintered in this harbor myself, I can vouch for every word of this song.) The idea for the song came one late autumn, when Larry had made the agonizing decision to leave the boats forever and go on with medicine, and he saw John down on the docks in the fading light, staring around at the boats with their covers on, making the old decision all over again. (GB) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDYTFSjNzl0&list=OLAK5uy_kS1oqMHSTVHtFYD4UaM1G4FU0hWeTh2yo&index=2 |
26 Jun 09 - 10:05 PM (#2665676) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John (Larry Kaplan) From: Charley Noble Joe- That's a very powerful song which I've forgotten over the years, and the notes certainly add something to it. I don't for a minute think that it's only about the "schooner people." It's about all of us, and we diminish year by year. As C. Fox Smith observed in one of her poems: I think it's better that way for there's nothing left but change; With the ships I knew laid up or lost, and the ports I knew grown strange... Cheerily, Charley Noble |
12 Jul 09 - 11:09 PM (#2678759) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John (Larry Kaplan) From: GUEST The song was never actually about schooner people per se---at least it was never intended to be; it was about the "thing" in all of us that sometime allows time to make our decisions before we do. By the way....I never left the schooners forever. I get back there as often as I can to see old friends. Thanks for your kind comments. More CDs planned soon. Larry Kaplan |
12 Jul 09 - 11:52 PM (#2678776) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John (Larry Kaplan) From: Joe Offer Thanks a lot for stopping by, Larry. I've enjoyed a number of your songs, particularly "Old Zeb"; and I really like the Worth All the Telling CD. -Joe Offer- |
14 Jul 09 - 10:44 PM (#2680453) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John (Larry Kaplan) From: GUEST What a wonderful passage from Smith' poem! LK |
16 Jun 13 - 09:05 AM (#3527007) Subject: Lyr Add: JOHN (Larry Kaplan) From: Larry Kaplan Here are the lyrics I wrote for "John." Written with no particular person in mind, but rather about the moment when a person discovers there can be no turning back. JOHN (By Larry Kaplan) Foggy Harbor Cold and wet and not a soul The boats are sitting crooked in the mud All about the sounds of life Are chilled and distant And the kerosene lamps Flicker in the night Rub your hands together Pull your collar up We'll drink another round Before the night is gone Take your chances boys Soon we'll all be leaving And not a word about the times to come John comes home To his old boat he's alone he wears His stocking cap pulled down upon his ears Ten years going And he's worked his hands To stone and leather Says tonight he's got to get away Busted broke no place to go That's what he says you get For putting all your time into the sea Then a man gets old, he says Too late to settle down, he says Too late to find a place for company Hear the hulls 'a creaking Hard against the rocky bottom Hear the hungry lonesome singing gulls Curse the winter winds Those empty dreams that took you in When you're young enough You never get your fill Keep your lanterns on And throw the big hatch open wide No man is a stranger in the cold Throw another log into the fire The night is young enough And good friends Keep a man from getting old Rub your hands together Pull your collars up We'll drink another round Before the night is gone Take your chances boys Soon we'll all be leaving And not a word About the times to come Take your chances boys Soon we'll all be leaving And not a word about the times to come Words and music by Larry Kaplan c,1976, Hannah Lane Music,BMI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnStqcyFEQY |
30 Sep 22 - 10:02 AM (#4154260) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John (Larry Kaplan) From: GUEST,Bill Nicholson My wife and I were listening to the Gordon Bok/Ed Trickett/Ann Mayo Muir recording of this tune and cannot quite figure out time meter/time signature. Not being much of a finger-picker it is hard for me to hear it: I sometimes think it is going back and forth from 4/4 to 3/4. I listened to a snippet of Larry singing it solo, and that clarified it a little, but I would still like to figure it out. Any comments? |
09 Oct 22 - 09:23 PM (#4154535) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John (Larry Kaplan) From: GUEST Hello, Mr Nicholson, Mudcat’s feeds were down just as I was about to write to you. I’m sorry, therefore, for the delay re: your question about my song, “Get her into shore.” Like you I cannot figure out the time of Bok/Trickett/Muir’s rendering of the song. It’s more of an operatic treatment than a steady metered version. The first time I actually heard it was when it was played on a folk radio show. I do it—have always done it in a straightforward 4/4 time which leaves me room to have the guitar add to the mood through harmonic chords using a half capo on strings 4-5-6 in the key of Am (at least that’s the chord position I use). You can hear my original version on my live CD from the “Bound for Glory” radio concert or on the Folk Legacy (now part of the Smithsonian Folkways Collection) CD, “Songs for an August Moon.” Ironically all of my CDs are on You Tube. That’s because when the recordings were digitized they became accessible as performances to You Tube. Go figure. Anyway, you can find the songs an the entire album they are in right there. Hope this helps. Gordon Bok has recorded a number of my songs but again the version you refer to is his own unique arrangement—or the joint effort of Bok-Trickett-Muir. Best wishes Larry |
09 Oct 22 - 10:01 PM (#4154537) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: John (Larry Kaplan) From: Joe Offer Who'd a thunk the songwriter was a pediatrician? Larry, I love your song and your recording. And if you were in my area, I'd take my grandchildren to you for medical care. Larry's recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnStqcyFEQY |