A Dog's Life

Track Notes

A Dog’s Life – Based on a poem by Cicely Fox Smith (UK) as adapted for singing by Mike Kennedy. Here you have the old sailor ever complaining about life at sea and swearing that he’ll never ship out again but, of course, he does, harmonies by Charlie Ipcar.

Rambo Shanty – Composed by Mike Kennedy, describing the hard life of a tall ship sailor from greenhorn to shellback, with harmony by Charlie Ipcar and Norris Dale.

An Ocean Tramp – Based on a poem by Cicely Fox Smith (UK) as adapted for singing by Mike Kennedy, describing the world wide voyages of a tramp freighter near the turn of the 19th century, harmony by Alison Lee Freeman.

Poor Old Ship – Based on a poem by Cicely Fox Smith (UK) with tune by Mike Kennedy. This old ship has seen better days and soon will be towed off to the the breakers yard, harmony by Charlie Ipcar, Norris Dale, and Judy Barrows, bass by Norris Dale.

Messmates All – Based on a poem by Cicely Fox Smith (UK) with tune by Mike Kennedy. This song is a series of toasts by soldiers who could be involved in any war past or present, harmony by Charlie Ipcar and Norris Dale.

High Noon in the Tropics – Based on another poem by Cicely Fox Smith and adapted for singing by Mike Kennedy. Here the old sailor steps into a nautical junk shop only to be transported back to the sailing days of his youth, harmony by Alison Lee Freeman and guitar by Jeff Logan.

The Wreckers’ Prayer – Based on a poem by Theodore G. Roberts with tune by Mike Kennedy. Here we have a village of wreckers offering up prayers to deliver them a richly laden ship so that it may be plundered and they might survive another hard winter, harmony by Charlie Ipcar, Norris Dale, and Jeff Logan.

The Glass on the Bar – Based on a poem by Australian Henry Lawson with tune by Mike Kennedy. Three drovers come in from the Outback and describe the loss of their old mate to the bartender, and then drink a toast to him.

In the Droving Days – Based on a poem by Australian Banjo Paterson with tune by Mike Kennedy. A drover attends a horse auction only to recognize his old horse on the block. The sight brings back a flood of memories, and he ends up placing the winning bid.

Rathlin Head – Based on a poem by Cicely Fox Smith (UK) with tune by Michael Kennedy. This song beautifully describes the mixed emotions of a young person leaving Liverpool for the first time via steamship at night and may reflect the poet’s own thoughts as she steamed out from Liverpool for Canada in 1911, harmony by Alison Lee Freeman.

Fiddler John – Based on a poem by Cicely Fox Smith (UK) with tune by Mike Kennedy. The poet describes an old country fiddler and how he is the focal point of the rural community, even after his death, with fiddle by Pam Weeks.

Angelina – Composed by Mike Kennedy, this song is a tribute to all the old windjammers that used to roam the Seven Seas, the young men who crewed them, and the old men who still remember and cherish them, with guitar accompaniment by Jeff Logan.

Paris Here I Come – Based on a traditional French drinking song as adapted in English by the sea music band The Harry Browns (UK). In the song father and sons are all all robust drinkers and hell-raisers, harmony by Charlie Ipcar and Norris Dale.

Rosie – Composed by Mike Kennedy in memory of a senior citizen hitch-hiker and storyteller that he once met while resident on Long Island, NY.

Good-Bye to the River – Composed by Mike Kennedy but inspired by a book of the same title by John Graves. In the song a man and his dog take a last canoe trip down a favorite river in Texas before new dams transform the river forever, harmony by Eli Dale, banjo by Charlie Ipcar, bass by Norris Dale.