SONG 2
THE TIRED OLD TRAWLER
Like the first song (The Good Ship England), this song also involves the sea and is an allegory of sorts. About what I am not sure myself. There is loneliness. There is love, but not real love. Probably purchased, and yet the man deceives himself into believing that in some way it really is love. I was probably between 16 and 18 when I wrote it.
The tied old trawler’s in the harbor, gently rocking and home from the sea
Children playing in the rigging, sun is sinking, there’s peace in the bay
But on the back streets laden with taverns drunken men weave a ragged course with their feet
One young fellow cold and sober winds his way through the dark, dirty streets
Rain is falling and by morning he knocks at a window and waits by the door
A weary worn woman comes to the doorway and in his eyes
This haggard creature’s a fawn
He follows after to her chamber, she quiets the candles that show her cracked walls
100 shillings worth of loving and years of lonliness have small rewards
But then far off there comes a clanging, the captain is bidding farewell to the shore
Riptide is in and love is left hanging, bound to sail for too many years
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