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15 Feb 21 - 04:06 PM (#4093310) Subject: Lyr Add: When Black Hands Saved Me From the Blue From: GUEST,Rick Pollay © Stuart Markus 1/18/21 (MLK Day) ’Twas a dark and a stormy curse of a day In November of late ’92 And my soul was awoke in terrible way When black hands saved me from the blue, brave boys When black hands saved me from the blue My shipmates had come from a bevy of lands They called us a checker board crew. And half of their words I could scarce understand When black hands saved me from the blue, brave boys When black hands saved me from the blue. The Black-Jacks had tended to keep to themselves As most of us tended to do The French and the Irish and Yankees as well When black hands saved me from the blue, brave boys When black hands saved me from the blue. But little it mattered when hauling a line, A halyard, a brace or a clew And it mattered less when aloft we did climb When black hands saved me from the blue, brave boys When black hands saved me from the blue. T’was on the main royal, my hand lost its grip In a moment I ever will rue From the wobbling foot rope I started to slip When black hands saved me from the blue, brave boys When black hands saved me from the blue. ’Tis many a sailor his end he has found And many good men overthrew At 30 degrees, first you freeze, then you drown When black hands saved me from the blue, brave boys When black hands saved me from the blue. But then a great strong hand did grip my arm tight With a strength such as I never knew I looked up and saw a face, dark as the night When black hands saved me from the blue, brave boys When black hands saved me from the blue. I think I shall mess with the Black-Jacks today It seems like the least I could do For when facing the end, shallow things melt away When black hands saved me from the blue, brave boys When black hands saved me from the blue. https://stumarkusmusic.com/music Note: clew down, Nautical. to secure (a sail) in an unfurled position. clew up, Nautical. to haul (the lower corners of a square-rig sail) up to the yard by means of the clew lines. "Checker board" crews, who alternated watches, were common in early 19th Cent free or vagabond blacks went to sea, especially on the large number of packet ships carrying cotton to England. |
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15 Feb 21 - 04:09 PM (#4093311) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: When Black Hands Saved Me From the Blue From: Joe Offer And a YouTube recording: |