On April 3, 2017 the metro of my adopted home town was attacked by fanatical scum of that variety which, in it's delusional arrogance, has the idea that an almighty supreme creator of the universe somehow needs the help of puny animated bags of water and dirt as enforcers.
In late March I'd already had the beginnings of an idea for a shanty about the butt-end-of-March weather, which we who live here all love to hate. To be a "complaining song" à la Winne the Pooh, that it's "cloudy and cold" again today, like yesterday, and probably tomorrow. But after the attack, which really woke me up to the realization of just how much I've come to care for this city and it's people, I wanted to make the song something more than just bitching about our chronically lousy weather (our "Maritime climate", as one enterprising travel guide called it!)
The weather bit certainly marks this song as a "Piter" shanty. But what I really hope is that, woven in along with some lighthearted sailor humor, is a tribute to the people of this city: the city that Nazi Germany failed to bring down, that city that nobody changed their Facebook profile pic to express their solidarity with, the people who spontaneously rallied city-wide to make sure their fellow citizens were able to get home on April 3 - the people who, although it be cloudy and cold today, tomorrow and forever, would up-anchor and sail anyway, dammit!
Lyrics
Cloudy and Cold, Cloudy and Cold
It’s our weather today, and when we’ll be old
But damned if we all be not mariners bold
So we sail when it’s Cloudy and Cold
So heave up the anchor, boys, let us away
Under skies that be Cloudy and Cold
We've heard tell of latitudes where they say you
Can see a great light in the sky
What turns the billows a right lovely blue
That falls on an’ dazzles yer eye
But us, we ain’t never sailed there
Sky above us is cloudy and gray
Just like it will be tomorrow
And just like it was yesterday
So heave up the anchor and let us away
Under skies that be cloudy and cold
We’ve heard there be islands where yer can flop
Under palm trees all warm in the sand
Where the damsels they don’t wear nothin’ on top
An’ their bottoms by the sea breeze is fanned
But us, we ain’t never sailed there
We just looks at each other all day
Just like we’ll be doin’ tomorrow
And like we all done yesterday
So heave up the anchor and let us away
Under skies that be cloudy and cold
We’ve heard there’s land where all sailors is rich
An’ they never be a-wantin’ for rum
An’ the skipper’s a friendly old sonofabitch
Who always will pour fer them some
But us, we ain’t never sailed there
On the ocean our throats is all dry
Sahara was they all day yesterday
And likely will be ‘til we die
So heave up the anchor and let us away
Under skies that be cloudy and cold
Cloudy and Cold, Cloudy and Cold
It’s our weather today, and when we’ll be old
But damned if we all be not mariners bold
So we sail when it’s Cloudy and Cold - HO!
Heave up the anchor, boys, let us away
Under skies that be Cloudy and Cold
So heave up the anchor, boys, let us away
Under skies that be cloudy and cold