This Random Weekend selection is a very special dedication to my sainted mother, who turns 70 today.
My extended family will be celebrating this milestone over the next two weeks on cruise around the northeastern U.S. and into Canada, so I’ll be lining up some appropriate tunes to mark the time through the end of July.
Random Weekends will proceed as usual, of course. Now let’s spin the wheel and see what iTunes serves up to mark my dear mother’s birthday.
OK, it’s a traditional sea shanty performed by Bob Dylan and The Band during their Basement Tapes recording sessions.
Not the best fit, perhaps, but it does mention going to sea, so let’s call it a bon voyage tune. Happy sailing and happy birthday, Mom!
For to cross the ocean wide
And he left his love behind him
Walkin’ down by the Liverpool tide.
For a week she wept full sorrows
Tore her hair and wrung her hands
Till she met another sailor
Walkin’ down by the Liverpool sands.
Why fair maid are you a-weeping
For your Johnny gone to sea?
If you wed with me tomorrow
I’ll be by you constantly.
I will buy you clothes and blankets
I’ll buy you a wedding ring.
You shall have a gilded cradle
For to rock your baby in.
Johnny Todd came home from sailin’
Sailin’ on that ocean wide
And he found his fair and false one
Was another sailor’s bride.
Now, all you men who go a-sailing
For to fight the foreign foe.
Never leave, never leave love like Johnny
Marry her before you go.
Meet Me In Montauk 
Would have been nice if you had reminded the passengers to bring passports for that cruise! Looking forward to celebrating in Bar Harbor though.😄
Reading this late, but thanks for the tribute song and for all the wonderful memories we all made on this fabulous trip 🙂