Simon the Shanty Harpist

So your hopes have all but withered, sunk in Essequibo River,

Yes, you’re in too deep and drifting out too far;

Well there are times in all our lives, when there’s nothing will suffice

But Simon, singing shanties with a harp.

‘Haul away boys,’ cries the mate, ’Too all it cometh, soon or late,

That moment when he’ll Leave Her Johnny, Leave her!’

Then, only harpists who sing shanties, can relive you of such fancies

And such terrors as the ravages of fever.

If all about you now are losing theirs and blaming it on you

It’s fair to say there’s only one hope you have left;

So, when your day is at its darkest, call upon a shanty harpist

Through the hurricane though it be your last breath!

So when The Rosabella sinks, and John Kanaka takes to drink,

And Tom has Gone To Hilo in a cart;

Then through the storm and the tornado who will fly to serenade you?

Simon, singing shanties with a harp.

Gloucester Shanty Festival notes 2022:

Simon The Shanty Harpist brings his own absurdity to the 7 seas

with tales about submarines that roll down Devon Villages and disguised girlfriends on board. The trad shanties are given a bit of an edit along with overboard sailors and a sailor who is afraid of water. There aren’t that many harpist in this genre and this one is certainly all at sea!