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Monday, April 22, 2013

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

2 comments:

  1. Sigh, I'm going to go drink now. Maybe after I hug my kids. Sob.
    ~Just Jill

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh dear... Perhaps a split of champagne will make it better?

    ReplyDelete