Here's is a sparse, primitive-sounding arrangement of a traditional American sea shanty. It might have sounded something like this on shipboard back in the days of sail. There's only a banjo, voice, and a set of 6 antique brass door keys. The drum-like sound is actually just tapping on the banjo head.
This was recorded in my home studio late one night when I couldn't sleep and was just fooling around. I just recently discovered it lurking on an external drive. I remember I had been reading about the US opoid drug crisis and the role of big pharmaceutical companies in creating it. Evidently some disgust lingered in my consciousness, because a snide reference found it's way into one verse. I've decided to leave it.
Lyrics
Well Cape Cod girls don't use no combs
Heave away, haul away
They combs their hair with codfish bones
And we're bound away
For Australia
CHORUS:
Well heave her up my bully bully boys
Heave away, haul away
Heave her up and don't you make a noise
We are bound away
For Australia
Cape Cod boys don't have no sleds
Heave away, haul away
They slides downhill on codfish heads
And we're bound away
For Australia
Cape Cod dames don't wear no frills
Heave away, haul away
They're bony and thin like codfish gills
And we're bound away
For Australia
Now them Cape Cod cats ain't got no tails
Heave away, haul away
They all blew off in the Cape Cod gales
And we're bound away
For Australia
The Cape Cod folks don't have no ills
Heave away, haul away
'Cause the doctors feed 'em opoid pills
And we're bound away
For Australia
Now them Cape Cod girls don't wear no clothes
Heave away, haul away
We'd keep them warm when the north wind blows
But we're bound away
For Australia
