The Skipper’s Lament

These are the lyrics to my song all about the former glory of the great Port of Liverpool. Now, yes, the city and the port has seen great and welcome regeneration, seemingly negating the less than rosy view of things as per the lyrics in my song; but the regeneration is not a catalyst for full regeneration of the levels of merchant trade which characterised the Port of Liverpool for many, many years. But it still leaves the song as a useful tool, background music perhaps for any historical look back at the decline of the port.
 
This once fine port had thousands of ships,
and vessels of every kind.
But the pride of this city is rotting away,
there’s hardly a boat left behind.

The clippers, and frigates, and liners set sail,
for over a hundred years.
But now when it rains in Liverpool town,
it’s the Mersey shedding its tears.

It’s the skipper’s lament, the bosun’s farewell,
no longer to sail far and wide,
and the empty docks reminds us all,
How great was this city’s pride.

From the Cast Iron Shore, or by the Pier Head, 
or sitting on the Crosby Sea-Wall,
there’d be tugboats and pilots,
and small fishing craft, 
you could sit and watch them all.

Now three hundred men are turned away,
there’s hardly a ship to be seen,
and before very long the landing stage, 
will become a floating museum.

It’s the skipper’s lament, the bosun’s farewell,
no longer to sail far and wide,
and the empty docks reminds us all,
how great was this city’s pride.

Well the Tall Ships they come, 
like ghosts from the past, 
to show how life used to be.
But the sounds from the river are requiem bells, 
an epitaph for the River Mersey.

**********

If you liked the above, then you may like to hear the recording made some years ago. You can either listen to the song by streaming it on Soundcloud (if you know a way to save from there, feel free), or watch and listen to a video made in 2006, or if you want an earthier version, then I also sung it live at a family part many years ago. Fortunately, this was recorded and is also on the internet. Just follow the links:

SOUNDCLOUD - STREAMED AUDIO : 

https://soundcloud.com/jmhainesy/the-skippers-lament

YOUTUBE: 2006 VIDEO (SONG AS BACKGROUND)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfcUN5o-nZ0

YOUTUBE: LIVE VERSION (2 SONGS IN ALL)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpFObtKHar0

Tags: sad, rhyme,