THE TUGBOAT SONG © Bob Wright you can tug on your ear (you can tug on your ear) you can tug on your nose (you can tug on your nose) you can tug on your fingers (you can tug on your fingers) you can tug on your toes (you can tug on your toes) you can tug all you want on your Mama’s hand but you can’t tug tug like a tugboat can tuuuuuuggg boats work hard for you and me tuuuuggg boats are the tuggiest boats you ever will see you can tug on your hair (you can tug on your hair) you can tug on your collar (you can tug on your collar) you can tug on your lips (you can tug on your lips) you can tug on a dollar (you can tug on a dollar) you can tug all you want on your Daddy’s hand but you can’t tug tug like a tugboat can tuuuuuuggg boats work hard for you and me tuuuuggg boats are the tuggiest boats you ever will see you can tug on your ear (you can tug on your ear) you can tug on your nose (you can tug on your nose) you can tug on your fingers (you can tug on your fingers) you can tug on your toes (you can tug on your toes) you can tug all you want on your Mama’s hand but you can’t tug tug like a tugboat can tuuuuuuggg boats work hard for you and me tuuuuggg boats are the tuggiest boats you ever will see

THE AMIGOS © BOB WRIGHT On Sundays I’d go to my grandparents house with my father and the rest of the brood all of his brothers and my cousins were there the men sat around in their suits there was Bill, George, and Tom and my Uncle John and the youngest one my father Joe they’d sit in the living room talking and laughing surrounded by pictures of boats I have a hunch any boats that we launch forever will sail in our dreams and I have no doubt if they were back on that couch they’d be talking about The Amigos again I’d sit on the floor and I’d read Field and Stream and dream about fishing with them they had ties wide as kites and had seen all the sights that qualified them to be men Grandma just smiled with her blue Irish eyes while Ol’ Cap held a phone to his ear it was for the TV and he couldn’t believe we all knew that he couldn’t hear I have a hunch any boats that we launch forever will sail in our dreams and I have no doubt if they were back on that couch they’d be talking about The Amigos again well they’d tease us and tickle us when we arrived then they’d all settle in to catch up stories were told but the ones they loved most all spun around one old boat she was named The Amigos she was 34 feet and they’d sailed her to many a place they’d go up to Canada or out on the bay where they filled her with bluefish some days I have a hunch any boats that we launch forever will sail in our dreams and I have no doubt if they were back on that couch they’d be talking about The Amigos again but the war came along and they all went to serve The Amigos went up in the ways they would never again set foot on her decks but they never forgot their old friend there have been other boats I’ve owned a few and they got to sail on them too now they all are gone its the end of the song but I know that they’re on The Amigos again I have a hunch any boats that we launch forever will sail in our dreams and I have no doubt if they were back on that couch they’d be talking about The Amigos again adios mis amigos calm seas and fair winds

THE FISHERMAN’S WALTZ © Bob Wright The boats are slow dancing together in pantomime each time the breeze lifts and falls halyards stop rattling sea gulls stop tattling lost in the Fisherman’s Waltz You’d think they’d be tired after working all day but the tide takes its turn and it spins them away. sweet and alluring each boat and it’s mooring are partners again as night shadows fall rising discreetly in time to the beat of the wind and the water and the Fisherman’s Waltz You’d think they’d be tired after working all day but the tide takes its turn and it spins them away. the evening light fades as the anchor lights bravely mark every boat one and all shining and swaying each movement betraying a harbor enchanted by the Fisherman’s Waltz You’d think they’d be tired after working all day but the tide takes its turn and it spins them away. The boats are slow dancing... together in pantomime... lost in the Fisherman’s Waltz

BORN UPON A MOUNTAINTOP © Bob Wright Daddy was a sailorman Mama had no knees I don’t know how they did it but the end result was me I was born upon a mountain top deep beneath the sea I could see the sky and I wondered why Nobody looked like me I love to roam the canyons there I love to swim the reefs I love to talk to the amberjacks when they swim next to me My Daddy never got to see the places I know best but he taught me tunes and beneath the moon I try to do my best BORN ON A MOUNTAIN TOP deep beneath the sea I love to hear the sailors singing along with me BORN ON A MOUNTAIN TOP deep beneath the sea With nothing but a banjo that my Daddy made for me I keep my banjo in a case he made to keep it dry And I play it on the rocks at night when ships go passing by I can play the Sailors Hornpipe till deep into the night but the one that I like best of all is THE KEEPER OF THE EDDYSTONE LIGHT BORN ON A MOUNTAIN TOP deep beneath the sea I love to hear the sailors singing along with me BORN ON A MOUNTAIN TOP deep beneath the sea With nothing but a banjo that my Daddy made for me

OUT IN MICHIGAN © Bob Wright they used to make cars and guitars out in Michigan best in the world in their day Cadillacs, Pontiacs banjos and mandolins out there in Michigan between the lakes Michigan seemed like a dream to Paul Simon but that was a long time ago now he’d be lookin for work up in Michigan still wonderin where did America go still wonderin where did America go a couple of friends took a ride out to Michigan played them a show and they saw some friends too got them a picture made holdin’ old Gibsons in front of a smokestack in Kalamazoo lets save that old smokestack so tall and strong proud to be Michigan made they built Earl’s banjo and Bill’s mandolin there since they moved away things just ain’t been the same Michigan seemed like a dream to Paul Simon but that was a long time ago now he’d be lookin for work up in Michigan still wonderin where did America go still wonderin where did America go one of these days I’ll drive all around Michigan rag top old Chevy and a flat top guitar I’ll sing some songs that were written in Michigan catch me some walleye and drink in the bars Michigan seemed like a dream to Paul Simon but that was a long time ago now he’d be lookin for work up in Michigan still wonderin where did America go still wonderin where did America go he’d find out that Michigan is Americas soul

BEWARE OF THE OYSTER PIRATES © Bob Wright (Heave-ho-heave... heave-ho-heave... Beware of the oyster pirates And their rowdy barefoot ways They’re out in might when the evening light Sneaks across the bay Their teeth are sharp as barnacles Their toes squish in the mud They take their time when the tide is right ‘Cause oysters doesn’t run Beware of the oyster pirates With their briny sacks of loot They pile them high and guard them tight With their oyster pirate crews Whose... teeth are sharp as barnacles Their toes squish in the mud They take their time when the tide is right ‘Cause oysters doesn’t run Beware of the oyster pirates And their heavy handled knives They use them well on oyster shells And they gobble what’s inside Their teeth are sharp as barnacles Their toes squish in the mud They take their time when the tide is right ‘Cause oysters doesn’t run Beware of the oyster pirates They never wear no shoes They just annoys the oysters And they get too tough for stew Their teeth are sharp as barnacles Their toes squish in the mud They take their time when the tide is right ‘Cause oysters doesn’t run So… if you see an oyster pirate Don’t sing out yo ho ho They don’t like noise when they’re at the oars Of their oyster pirate boats And… their teeth are sharp as barnacles Their toes squish in the mud They take their time when the tide is right ‘Cause oysters doesn’t run DEAD OYSTERS TELL NO TALES

SOMETIMES A SAILOR © Bob Wright he ain’t scared of pirates and he ain’t scared of storms but... sometimes a sailor just wants to go home he can feel the salt air blowing deep in his bones but... sometimes a sailor just wants to go home going home (clapclapclap) going home (clapclapclap) tin in his pocket and time of his own going home (clapclapclap) going home (clapclapclap) but... sometimes a sailor just wants to go home he’ll rock in the crows nest all the way round the Horn but... sometimes a sailor just wants to go home he’ll scrub all the decks on his knees with a stone but... sometimes a sailor just wants to go home going home (clapclapclap) going home (clapclapclap) tin in his pocket and time of his own going home (clapclapclap) going home (clapclapclap) but... sometimes a sailor just wants to go home he can dance like a wave he can sing like a whale but... sometimes a sailor just wants to go home he can smile like an angel when he’s telling ya’ tales but... sometimes a sailor just wants to go home going home (clapclapclap) going home (clapclapclap) tin in his pocket and time of his own going home (clapclapclap) going home (clapclapclap) but... sometimes a sailor just wants to go home now it’s rare that a sailor stays long on the land cause the walking is strange and the people ain’t tan he’ll be gone the next time that the wind starts to blow but... sometimes a sailor just wants to go home going home (clapclapclap) going home (clapclapclap) tin in his pocket and time of his own going home (clapclapclap) going home (clapclapclap) but... sometimes a sailor just wants to go home

THE TUGBOAT BARD © Bob Wright Working boats appeal to us whether big or small fishing boats and ferry boats but one outdoes them all to hear him talk about ‘em was to hear a man in love its hard to get a word in when he starts talking tugs Now all the Tuggers gather On an old boat in the yard They drink their Scotch from Dixie Cups To toast the Tugboat Bard Sharing tears and laughter at The stories he would tell Then joining hands when someone stands To give A Scot’s Farewell Out of all the working boats The tugboat is the Queen The greatest mix of strength and grace The world has ever seen nimble as a dancer powerful and smooth there’s never been a vessel built a tugboat couldn’t move Now all the Tuggers gather On an old boat in the yard They drink their Scotch from Dixie Cups To toast the Tugboat Bard Sharing tears and laughter at The stories he would tell Then joining hands when someone stands To give A Scot’s Farewell he left behind his pictures and his words upon the page filled with all the passion any man could hope to raise even though he’s left us his spirit’s kept alive in every heart that skips a beat when a tugboat passes by So heres to Donald Sutherland and heres to all the crews who spend their lives on tugboat time cause that’s the life they choose it takes special people who can spend their days apart but you can’t ignore a tugboat when it’s tugging at your heart Now all the Tuggers gather On an old boat in the yard They drink their Scotch from Dixie Cups To toast the Tugboat Bard Sharing tears and laughter at The stories he would tell Then joining hands when someone stands To give A Scot’s Farewell

RIVERBOAT MAN © Bob Wright All aboard! All aboard! Last call for Kingston, Albany, Troy...! haul that gangplank cast the lines blow that whistle one last time point her nose upriver again Ain’t nothin’ like the life of a riverboat man They all looked over at the bank of the river They all looked over at the bank of the river They all looked over at the bank of the river And they yelled…MARK TWAIN Hear that whistle, see that steam everybody cheering while the Captain beams It ain’t the Mississippi but it sure is grand To an old-fashioned fire-breathing riverboat man They all looked over at the bank of the river They all looked over at the bank of the river They all looked over at the bank of the river And they yelled…MARK TWAIN He was hard to miss in his flannel suit With a big mustache and a long cheroot The captain blew a greeting as they slipped upstream And all along the railings you could hear them scream They all looked over at the bank of the river They all looked over at the bank of the river They all looked over at the bank of the river And they yelled…MARK TWAIN He broke into a grin so wide People starting smiling on the Jersey side All along the river as they pulled away Everybody heard what the people said They all looked over at the bank of the river They all looked over at the bank of the river They all looked over at the bank of the river And they yelled…MARK TWAIN

WHO DO YOU SEE ON THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY © Bob Wright Who do you see on the Staten Island Ferry? Who do you see on the Staten Island Ferry? Who do you see on the Staten Island Ferry? When you’re crossing New York Harbor I see the Captain on the Staten Island ferry I see the Captain on the Staten Island ferry I see the Captain on the Staten Island ferry When I’m crossing New York Harbor Tell us who you see who you see Tell us who you see who you see (clapclap) Tell us who you see who you see Tell us who you see who you see(clapclap) Tell us who you see who you see Tell us who you see who you see (clapclap) on the Staten Island Ferry I see the crew on the Staten Island Ferry I see the crew on the Staten Island Ferry I see the crew on the Staten Island Ferry When I’m crossing New York Harbor Tell us who you see who you see Tell us who you see who you see (clapclap) Tell us who you see who you see Tell us who you see who you see(clapclap) Tell us who you see who you see Tell us who you see who you see (clapclap) on the Staten Island Ferry I see commuters on the Staten Island ferry I see commuters on the Staten Island ferry I see commuters on the Staten Island ferry When I’m crossing New York Harbor Tell us who you see who you see Tell us who you see who you see (clapclap) Tell us who you see who you see Tell us who you see who you see(clapclap) Tell us who you see who you see Tell us who you see who you see (clapclap) on the Staten Island Ferry I see tourists on the Staten Island ferry I see tourists on the Staten Island ferry I see tourists on the Staten Island ferry When I’m crossing New York Harbor thats who I see on the Staten Island Ferry thats who I see on the Staten Island Ferry thats who I see on the Staten Island Ferry When I’m crossing New York Harbor

WOMAN OF THE HARBOR © Bob Wright crystal ice and silky snow coats the boats of Buffalo and I long to go to them and dream of foreign places just a girl with secret schemes of ships at sea and ports abeam I always knew I’d make them true and spend my life at sea I am a woman of the harbor now first of a long line to follow standing tall and proud a woman of the harbor now the freighters and the ferries all would come alive until the Fall barges on the old canal could sweep my heart away any old canoe could be a pirate ship for one like me I prayed that I would get away and spend my life at sea I am a woman of the harbor now first of a long line to follow standing tall and proud a woman of the harbor now Sail away Sail away Sail away Sail away there are many ships I’ve known many seas I’ve sailed upon ports of call and moonlit wakes linger in my dreams I’d ship out again today but those days are done for me there’s one thing I’m proud to say I spent my life at sea I am a woman of the harbor now first of a long line to follow standing tall and proud a woman of the harbor now (repeat)

THE FIRST FAREWELL © BOB WRIGHT I can barely see your sails at the edge of the sky fading like the light fading in the night as proud and tall as they might be they look so small to me and the water is so cold and deep oh the water cold and deep oh the water cold and deep oh the water cold and deep oh the water cold and deep you said don’t dare worry you would not be gone long strode up the gangway and you were gone as proud and tall as you might be you looked so small to me and the water is so cold and deep oh the water cold and deep oh the water cold and deep oh the water cold and deep oh the water cold and deep whatever gods that there may be whatever spells or charms I pray that they will keep you safe from harm as proud and tall as I might be I’m smaller than I seem and the water is so cold and deep oh the water cold and deep oh the water cold and deep oh the water cold and deep oh the water cold and deep