"All hands on deck, we"ve run afloat" I heard the captain cry
"Explore the ship, replace the cook, let no one leave alive!"
Across the straits, around the Horn, how far can sailors fly?
A twisted path, our tortured course, and no one left alive

We sailed for parts unknown to man, where ships come home to die
No lofty peak, nor fortress bold, could match our captain's eye
Upon the seventh seasick day we made our port of call
A sand so white, and sea so blue, no mortal place at all

We fired the gun, and burnt the mast, and rowed from ship to shore
The captain cried, we sailors wept, our tears were tears of joy
Now many moons and many Junes have passed since we made land
A salty dog, this seaman's log, your witness my own hand


Lyrics submitted by planetearth, edited by vitaminf, JimbobAlbobjim

A Salty Dog Lyrics as written by Keith Reid Gary Brooker

Lyrics © Onward Music Limited

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A Salty Dog song meanings
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  • +7
    General Comment

    I'm amazed by the variety of interpretations here. Since first hearing this some 40+ years ago, I've always felt this was a straightforward story, representing a first-hand account (your witness-my own hand) of a group of sailors (pirates?) who commandeer a ship, kill the existing crew, and sail to a far-off destination where they go ashore, destroy the ship, and happily live out their lives. Lines like "explore the ship" and "let no one leave alive" seem completely consistent with taking violently taking over an unfamiliar ship. And in a hostile take over of a ship, the first order of business is to secure the food supply to someone you trust, lest you risk poisoning ("replace the cook"). And once arriving at their safe haven, to them it is the most beautiful place ever, being the fulfillment of their dreams (sand so white, and sea so blue, no mortal place at all).

    JimbobAlbobjimon November 15, 2015   Link

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