This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
The fog is rolling in, the tide is high
Diane's as fat can be, aye Captain aye
The guests' seem more than pleased
How is the wine?
We shall be underway on the bye and bye
Ahead one third, ahead two thirds!
Full ahead, flank
And out from the belly of a whale came a prophet
Amen!
Go shoot the moon, the sun, the great divide
I believe there's a storm a brewin'
Nine crows at nine o clock nye
Dutch men on the mizzen mast
Six harpies are singing to the lee
I believe she's going down
I believe we're gonna die, die, die
Fortune tellers make a killing nowadays
Me oh my!
Howdy Doody's past the house of Aquarious
Bring me more whisky and rye
Big news from the party boat
Oh sir, do not distress, the food is fine
Oh, but I must confess
I do find the wine a wee bit dry
Fifteen men on a dead man's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rye
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
She's sunk full fathom, five, five, five
Fortune tellers make a killing nowadays
Me oh my!
Howdy Doody's past the house of Aquarious
Bring me more whisky and rye
Big news from the party boat
Them bones, them bones, them dry, dry bones
Come down to the locker of Davy Jones
Diane's as fat can be, aye Captain aye
The guests' seem more than pleased
How is the wine?
We shall be underway on the bye and bye
Ahead one third, ahead two thirds!
Full ahead, flank
And out from the belly of a whale came a prophet
Amen!
Go shoot the moon, the sun, the great divide
I believe there's a storm a brewin'
Nine crows at nine o clock nye
Dutch men on the mizzen mast
Six harpies are singing to the lee
I believe she's going down
I believe we're gonna die, die, die
Fortune tellers make a killing nowadays
Me oh my!
Howdy Doody's past the house of Aquarious
Bring me more whisky and rye
Big news from the party boat
Oh sir, do not distress, the food is fine
Oh, but I must confess
I do find the wine a wee bit dry
Fifteen men on a dead man's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rye
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
She's sunk full fathom, five, five, five
Fortune tellers make a killing nowadays
Me oh my!
Howdy Doody's past the house of Aquarious
Bring me more whisky and rye
Big news from the party boat
Them bones, them bones, them dry, dry bones
Come down to the locker of Davy Jones
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I guess I think the song is about a boat full of partiers that are carrying on in decadence. A storm comes along and the ship sinks, killing everyone on board.