S for Ships That Don't Come In

Nautical Signal Flag: S = Sierra

I was driving to work one day quite a few years ago.  I was not happy.  Bad things were afoot, and they came to fruition a year or so later, with a lot of nastiness.  I had the radio on, and a song came on.  Someone going into a bar and talking with an old man about how difficult life was.  The voice was pleasant, the words good enough – until I heard a verse:  

 

 

Just when I'd hit bottom That old man raised his glass

And said at least we had our chances, There's those who never have

So here's to all the soldiers Who have ever died in vain

The insane locked up in themselves The homeless down on Main

To those who stand on empty shores And spit against the wind

And those who wait forever For ships that don't come in

What? I thought.  What IS this song?

I listened as it went through to its ending.  Naturally, the DJ did not announce it (never happens with songs I really want to know about).  I got in to work, fired up my computer and did a google search.  I found the song and read the words, and it was as though the writer was talking to me. 

Yes, things were difficult and disheartening.  I was not happy where I was, I didn't know where I was going and looking back at my path to where I was, I saw a good many stupid mistakes and gun-jumping.  But still, I was not badly off, I had my dreams, I had friends, and I had reasons to be thankful, and people to keep in my thoughts and prayers.  Those who are waiting forever for ships that don't come in. 

The song was performed by Joe Diffie.  Tomorrow's offering is another of his.  I wonder if you can guess which one it is…  Be prepared to laugh! 

Ships that don't come in

I could tell he'd had a tough life By the way he sat and stared

And me, I'd come to push and shove So I pulled up a chair

We talked of roads untraveled We talked of love untrue

Of strings that come unraveled We were kings and kindred fools

And just when I'd hit bottom That old man raised his glass

And said at least we had our chances There's those who never have

So here's to all the soldiers Who have ever died in vain

The insane locked up in themselves The homeless down on Main 

To those who stand on empty shores And spit against the wind

And those who wait forever For ships that don't come in

He said it's only life's illusions That bring us to this bar

To pick up these old crutches And compare each other's scars 

'Cause the things we're calling heartache Hell, they're hardly worth our time
We bitch about a dollar When there's those without a dime

And as he ordered one last round He said I guess we can't complain

God made life a gamble And we're still in the game 

So here's to all the soldiers Who have ever died in vain

The insane locked up in themselves The homeless down on Main

To those who stand on empty shores And spit against the wind

And those who wait forever For ships that don't come in

And those who wait forever

For ships that don't come in

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE...

Songwriter(s): Dave Gibson

Copyright: Sony/Atv Tree Publishing