Sailor were there sunny seas,
Did fish swim by in symphonies,
or perched upon the mizzen did you see
the cormorant and gannets flight
and whales of blue and pearls of white
and silver sails at glorious height
and league on league of sea?
Will you ever know again the strength that swims the blood of sailormen?
You are exiled from the sunny sea,
You are old and still remain to be a sailor.
Poor old sailor, poor old...
As you wound your way through a thousand lands
Shook a thousand different coloured hands,
took a thousand women contraband you were every inch the part
And you watched them die beneath your chest
Where all your women come to rest
With a tattoo for your very best encrusted on your heart.
Oh will you ever sense again the love that fills the bones of sailor men
You are exiled from the open waves
And anchored to your grave remain a sailor.
Poor old sailor, poor old...
Now you sit and waste defaced and old
You are put to bed and fed and told
They display you like a fossil that is washed up on the shore
Well you always were a roving man
And you couldn't stand too long on land,
But they haven't let you lift a hand for twenty years or more
Oh will you ever know again the love that fills the hearts of sailor men
You anchored to your plot of land
Where they never even understand a sailorman.
A sailorman, you're just a...
Poor old sailor,
Poor old boy.
(Transcription courtesy of Inbar Grinstein)
credits
from CAFÉ SOCIETY - Troubadour,
released September 1, 2023
Lead vocal: Raphael & Hereward / Acoustic gtrs: Hereward, Tom & Raphael / Organ: John Gosling / Bass: Nick South / Drums: Jim Franks / Engineer: Roger Beale / Producer: Ray & Dave Davies / Remastered by Gerry Diver
supported by 55 fans who also own “Poor Old Sailor”
Quite good songs from some new inexperienced band that I've never heard but I think they have promise though really they needed to start their career say in the mid-1970's during a time of strife & hope with clashing cultures & international conflict to help inspire the tempering of this raw talent into something folkish and joecoqueresque avec a nouveau sensibility of finger pickin' geetar and riddim&blooooozzz and glued back hair, sequins, glitter, safetypins & paperhats. A good first attempt. quangobaud
supported by 23 fans who also own “Poor Old Sailor”
So much atmosphere conveyed by so few words. This track truly lives up to its title and not only that - this version features Steve Laurie and Pat Davey - two old muso friends from the eighties. Richard Hayward
Ben Wheeler uses an East German synthesizer and a Soviet flanger to create hauntingly weird yet bright and open electronic soundscapes. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 10, 2022
supported by 19 fans who also own “Poor Old Sailor”
This album has stuck with my dad for the best part of 30 years, Tom's music has a timeless quality that doesn't age and stays with his fans for decades. Adam Stephens