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Beware the Swirlies

from Tales of the Brine and the Maritime by Adam Kurtz

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about

Based on a True Story

lyrics

A July day with white, hazy skies
We took a mighty crew
Aboard the Maude who welcomed us proud
As she is wont to do
We quested for fish, the mackerel-fish
To fill our emptied cores
Heading full steam to the sacred waters
Off of Haskell's shores

We remembered the words our Grandfather urged
Always be ware!
Beware! Beware the Swirlies!
Traverse them if you dare!
For those who cross the Swirlies
Seldom tell the tale
They seldom tell the tale

With hope in our bones and our lines cast out
We waited for the bites
The bend of the pole that told us tonight
We'd dine to our delight
When the first mate called out, despair in her voice,
Quivering with fear
"Aye, on this course, not far off the bow,
The Swirlies do appear!"

We remembered the words our Grandfather urged
Always be ware!
Beware! Beware the Swirlies!
Traverse them if you dare!
For those who cross the Swirlies
Seldom tell the tale
They seldom tell the tale

With nowhere to run and nowhere to hide
The Captain followed true
Left of the red, to the right of the green
Of the buoys numbering two
The sea serpent spikes of Haddock Rock
Lured us to our wreck
We knew that the Swirlies cared not where we died
So long as we splintered our deck

We remembered the words our Grandfather urged
Always be ware!
Beware! Beware the Swirlies!
Traverse them if you dare!
For those who cross the Swirlies
Seldom tell the tale
They seldom tell the tale

Steadfast and brave our crew carried on
In hope of Haskell's Lee
We never did quit on our mackerel-fish quest
We don't quit so easily.
Because we were proud and caught us a fist
The Swirlies were no match
And on to the port we sailed with the triumph
Of living and of our catch.

We remembered the words our Grandfather urged
Always be ware!
Beware! Beware the Swirlies!
Traverse them if you dare!
For those who cross the Swirlies
Seldom tell the tale
But we lived to tell the tale

credits

from Tales of the Brine and the Maritime, released July 14, 2015

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Adam Kurtz Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville-based singer, songwriter, guitarist, pedal steel guitarist, manic-album-maker, wing enthusiast.

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