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May 1, 2015 · Life In Song 1990's, Songs about the Sea

301 If I Had A Boat

19674256_sIn the late 1990’s I was making my living primarily as a storyteller traveling around New England to elementary and middle schools. A PTA person from Rhode Island (The Ocean State) asked me if I had a program about the Sea.

I knew she wanted some “sea shanty” crap that only “old fart folk singers” did, but I told her “oh yes I have a great program about the sea…”

And then I started writing songs and researching some amazing stories included a couple of real life female pirates… I tossed in some songs I’d written in an artist in residence program I did at Uriah Hill Elementary school in Peekskill NY about sharks and whales as well as a few fabulous stories from Clarissa Pinkola Estes book “Women Who Run With The Wolves”, and shortly thereafter I had me a “program”.

A cool program. As in “Not Boring” or “typical”. A program that I could do a hundred different ways without getting bored. LOL

So in the next few posts I’ll share some more.

Please keep in mind these are songs that are designed for kids as well as adults. Because my kid audiences ALSO had teachers and parents. I always did my best not to dumb down stuff.

That’s the way my musical hero, Pete Seeger did it and I proudly follow in his footsteps… and now that I’ve come to a place where I’m actually proud to be called an “old fart folksinger,” I still think there’s a lot more to a program about the sea than some sea chanties… You can check out my school programs at DrumSongStory.com

…and yeah, you “detail oriented people” out there (you know who you are), I’m fully aware I spelled Sea Chanties/Shanty 2 different ways…) :o)

Please click arrow to play:

If I Had A Boat

Song #301 | 9/3/1998 | CD: Breathing Underwater

I don’t know but I’ve been told
This old ocean is deep and cold
And it’s a story too huge to be sold
If you tell it
I will listen
While our ship comes sailing in again

Refrain:
And if I had a boat… I’d sail it
And if it sprang a leak… I’d bail it
And if there was a storm… I’d high tail it back to you

I don’t know but I have seen
Storms at sea that would turn you green
And the sea may well be ruthless, but it’s never ever mean
If you hold my hand
I’ll hold yours
Til we both get safely back to shore

Refrain:

I don’t know but I have heard
The odds against surviving are just absurd
But someone’s got to do it, so let’s gather up our courage
You can be my friend
I’ll be yours
Together we can weather every storm

Refrain:

I don’t know but I can feel
When someone’s full of air or when they’re real
So I will take the lookout and you can take the wheel
Look to starboard
Look to port
You can use my shoulder for support

Refrain:

Copyright 1998-2015 by Mark Shepard. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

photo – Copyright: / 123RF Stock Photo

Filed Under: Life In Song 1990's, Songs about the Sea

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Total awesomeness!!!

‘Let’s Run’ is MY FAVORITE so far.. I LOVE THIS ONE.. great job.. total awesomeness!!! I thank Jana Stanfield for introducing me to your gifts. I am grateful.

Merril

Enjoying your songs so much…

Hello Mark. I am enjoying your songs so much! I’d love to see you play live somewhere.

Marianne

I Love listening to all your songs…

Mark, you really are an amazing songwriter! I Love listening to all your songs and sitting in the creative aura they create!

Cheri

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album…

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album. I hear so many different influences and styles woven throughout the songs, really keeps it interesting from start to finish!

Dan Z

You have put a grown man in tears…

Mark, this song and message really hit home for me today. You have put a grown man in tears. Thank You for what you do. Sometimes I think you sound kind of cheesy, and then others, I think you are a genius, and I’m beginning to realize that you actually care about helping people. So hard to “get out of your own way” sometimes…thanks for the reminder.

Jeremy

Been singing the chorus since the first day I heard it…

I sh*t you not when I say I’ve been singing the chorus to Honest Rock since the first day I heard it. I sing this every single day. Many times a day. Seriously. It’s like a mantra to me. It soothes me:-)

Gene Moore

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred…

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred and dear as a faith community.

Gina Sullivan, Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph

For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love…

Dear Mark, THANK YOU for sending *Spark & Flame*!!!! This CD certainly is a compilation of Conscious Love Songs! As I listen I am transported to memory after memory past, present and future, fulfilled and unfulfilled. I was flooded with many different emotions. I cried, laughed, held my breath and also breathed deep heart-centered breaths of connection to the Divine. I feel joy, grief, sadness, compassion, love, awe, freedom, kindness, gratitude and appreciation. For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love, releasing, acceptance for what was, what is and who I am. Knowing that I am enough and that I am Divinely Loved.

J

Love your lyrics!

Love your music! Love your lyrics!

Robin Bridgeford

Your song was just perfect to start my day…

Mark, your song ‘Freedom (It’s Been  Long Road)’ was just perfect to start my day. I LOVE IT!  Thank you, Thank you.  Blessings to you and much gratitude for your musical gift.

Judy

Never fails to move me…

Your incredible music never fails to move me. Thank you, Mark.

Paula

Brilliant!

Brilliant! I LOVE seeing the words to all these beloved songs, thanks!

Mary F.

They love (your song) and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

My name is Cecile. I teach kindergarten at OMSD. I had the pleasure of using your song Together We Can Change The World to help my students make a difference in this wonderful world! They love it and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

Cecile Arvizo

I loved the song and listened to it 3 times….

Hi Mark, I just had to tell you this. I emailed my 3 granddaughters the song you wrote who are sisters with the youngest being 11 years old, has cerebral palsy and is very smart, is able to talk, very funny, uses a computer, is able to write, now is learning to play drums, emails me ‘Thanks. I do.’ I loved the song and listened to it 3 times.

Gail Russ

Just awesome…

Your music is taking over my life and it’s awesome!

Eric

You write some great songs!

Hi Mark, You write some great songs! I really enjoyed listening to all of them on Spark and Flame. Thank you for all that you do. Keep up the good work! All the best.

Susan

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