THE WATERMAN'S DAUGHTER - SONG LYRICS (2017 Katrina Kadoski)
DOWN THE CHESAPEAKE
Boat made from a single tree
hollowed out
by sweat and fire
down the chesapeake
all these centuries
a great spirit keeps
the Bay, the land, the trees
tribes of the old chesapeake
white sails on the wind
STICK TO MY GUNS
I show up for law and order
so long as the order is mine
stick to my guns and convictions
stick to my guns with pride
orders, following orders
wars and founding ways
bucket and bargain
field planted by slaves
Stick to my guns and hold on
come heaven or hurricane
times of trouble and triumph
stick to my guns anyway
OLD HOUSE COVE
Captain Alex Corbin
With his soldiers pay
Brought his sloop from Baltimore
And brought it down the bay
four sunrises
‘fore the season opened
Soon as he took a lick
Oyster police swooped in
Captain hid
1st mate said
ain’t my boat
ain’t my dredge
I don’t know where the captain is
I don’t know where the captain is
Hooked tight and towed behind the steamer chesapeake
They’d be fining high and confiscating
Corbins brand new rig
for four sunrises fore the season opened?
Captain would be damned, if he lost everything he owned
A thought as ripe as cherry pie
Came across the captains minds
And in a flash he realized
He could out run them...
In old house cove
Old house cove
A thought as bright
Full moon night
That shallow bar in old house cove
took an ax to the cable
Sails and wind complied
They escaped under spray of bullets
Went on whizzing by
Police chased Corbins sloop on down the line
Til he skipped the bar in old house cove
Left him high and dry
In old house cove…
But Captain Alex Corbin
with his soldiers pay
another sloop from Baltimore
he’s just another waterman in the bay
LONG MAY THE BOUNTY KEEP
Three and a half centuries
waterman in the bay
homefires burning
while they work away
Long May the Bounty Keep
Hanging wash to dry
Smith Island Cake piled high
Flood under full moon light
equinox storms up the wild
Long may the bounty keep
sun over gold and green
oysters in the deep
Iron pride and rising tide
faithful still we sing
LEFT BEHIND
steam train
whistle blew
and one left behind
springcame for you
like a sweet bird song
ooo-ooh ooh-ooh -ooh
crimson Sunset in the distance
a line on the edge of existence
out to sea carry old dreams
memories beneath ancient trees
all the leaving
leaving
The leaving behind
Leaving
10 PACES
10 paces
Turn back and fire
Burnt the holes
into each other
ashes swept in western wind
winter washed up clean again
got just enough money
and just enough friends
you fought when you thought it’d never end
Never was too clear to begin
our finest on the top shelf
admired the gold trimming
til it all came crashing down
when the claws and flames came out
you thought that dragon tail
swung just to hurt you
write it out
ride it out
pick it up
dance it back around the fire
it's a foreign language now
10 paces
CAPTAIN OF YOUR OWN SOUL
Vandals got the mausoleum boarded up
diggin’ diamonds in the dust
All those seasons on the coast
Standing out there in the cold
Captain of your own soul
Treasure Map unfolds
they couldn’t take the hearts gold
was guiding you on
all the years fixing up
a broken time
just before the dawn awakes
your star shines
captain of your own soul
holding all the hearts gold
treasure map unfolds
travelling on
All those joyful findings
heartful remindings
Captain of your own soul
on your way home