“Walking Away from Rainbows”

Many years ago while attending college in the Philadelphia area, my favorite radio station was WMMR. I used to listen to the Morning Zoo with John DeBella. One year, the program was broadcast live from London for about a week and featured various guests stopping by the studio.

The band GTR had recently released its first (and only) album and guitarists Steve Howe and Steve Hackett were two of the musical guests.

If I recall correctly, when the subject of his departure from Genesis (just before the band became hugely popular) came up, Steve Hackett replied that sometimes one has to walk away from rainbows, even though they are beautiful. For some reason, that’s stuck with me throughout the years.

He subsequently recorded the instrumental piece “Walking Away from Rainbows.” In an interview posted on Innerviews, when asked about it, he said:

“I think everyone gets the feeling at some point that it’s time to move on from whatever situation….There’s a feeling of sadness, but there’s also a feeling of resolve.”

I recently decided to walk away from my own rainbow…Falls of Clyde. It was a hard and painful decision.

I spent six years of my life doing what I could for her, often alone. While I grew increasingly frustrated and angry, I hung in there…for her. I shed blood, a lot of sweat, and tears for her. I was one of her crew and she was my ship. I loved her. Still do.

I am disappointed, but not in myself. I worked hard and I know I did my best. I can hold my head up high.

I am sad, but not for myself. I am sad for her.

That’s all I’ll say.

The Lonesome Boatman – The Fureys

Welsh Interlude

I am a fan of traditional music, especially that of the British Isles. With their history and culture intertwined with the sea, it is no surprise to find many tunes and songs that have maritime themes.

One of my favorite Welsh songs is “Llongau Caernarfon” (Ships of Caernarfon). I first heard the Ar Log version many moons ago on NPR’s “Thistle & Shamrock” program. The song is about a lad who is at the harbor watching the sailing ships taking on cargo and getting ready to sail. He wants to be a sailor and longs to go to sea on board one of them.

“Toc daw’r stemar bach i’w towio…”

National Maritime Museum: Steam tug ‘Ben More’ on the Thames

“Shortly, a small steamer (tug) comes to tow them…”

For anyone looking for information related to Welsh maritime history, this excellent site (focus on north Wales) is a good place to start:

Hysbysrwydd Arforol Gwynedd / Gwynedd Maritime Database

New Year’s Fireworks

Great view of the fireworks from FOC’s poop deck!

My piping is not up to par, so I brought my whistle instead. Played Runrig’s “Cearcal a’ Chuain” on the tween deck for the ship and any of the old crew still about.

Song o’ the Yard – Clyde Born

Written by Leo Coyle

Northwest Passage – Stan Rogers

Roger McGuinn

Roger McGuinn is perhaps best known for his work with the Byrds. He also has a keen interest in folk / traditional music. One of his projects is his Folk Den website.

Folk Den consists of songs collected by Mr. McGuinn throughout his career as a singer and songwriter. He provides background information, lyrics (with guitar chords), and MP3s of the songs done in his own unique style.

One of the more extensive categories is Seafaring. Whether you are already a fan of Mr. McGuinn or not, his posts are well worth perusing.

Roger McGuinn singing “Haul Away Joe.”

(Maybe he’d be interested in writing a song about FOC?)

The Fisherman’s Song / Lament For The Fisherman’s Wife – Silly Wizard

Vocals by another Stewart, Andy M.

What force leads a man
To a life filled with danger
High on seas or a mile underground?
It’s when need is his master
And poverty’s no stranger,
And there’s no other work to be found.

Al Stewart

You’re probably wondering why Al Stewart is a topic on a nautical blog. If you’re of a certain age, you probably are familiar with his hit “Year of the Cat” and maybe “On the Border” or “Time Passages.”

What you may not be aware of is that he has written a bunch of maritime-themed songs.

Two of my favorites are: “The Dark and the Rolling Sea” and “Old Admirals”

“Old Admirals” is a wonderfully compact overview of the life of a Victorian era Royal Navy officer.

I love these two lines in particular:

“Oh the wooden ships they turned to iron and the iron ships to steel,
And shed their sails like autumn leaves with the turning of the wheel.”

Other songs:

Hanno the Navigator
Life in Dark Water
Lord Grenville
Midnight Rocks
Peter on the White Sea
Sampan

The Shipyard Apprentice – Archie Fisher