Ch 3: The Sea of Rumours

Musical theatre, steampunk folk; stamping pub-singalong march, male lead in the user's recorded voice with Cockney character turns and rough sailor gang refrains; stomps, claps, accordion and brass drive the theatrical orchestration, with foggy, theatrical stage-colour and evolving shanty hooks

Verse 1
We cast off just before sunrise From Apparently-on-Sea, A smoky iron steamer Bound for places yet to be.
The gulls were wheeling overhead, The fog lay thick and low, And every man upon the deck Had somewhere else to go.
A chap called Me-Mate-Says Mick Was leaning by the rail.
He said,
"I heard a giant fish was found What swallowed half of Wales."
I said,
"Who told you that?"
He scratched his beard.
"My mate."
I said,
"Did he see it?"
Mick said,
"No. But his cousin reckons yes."

Refrain I
Heave away, boys, Watch the lantern, watch the tide, Things look bigger in the darkness When there's nowhere else to hide.
Heave away, boys, Half the monsters of the deep Started life as bits of driftwood Seen by tired men needing sleep.

Verse 2
The wind picked up by afternoon, The clouds rolled dark and fast. Every tale aboard that ship Was bigger than the last.
Old All-Ears Alan knew a bloke Who'd found the Spear of Fate.
I said,
"Where is it then?"
He said,
"Well... that's another debate."
One sailor swore he'd seen a saint Walk barefoot on the foam.
Another claimed Atlantis Was somewhere near Southend.
A fisherman named Barry said The moon had changed its size.
I asked him how he'd worked it out.
He said,
"It looks different some nights."

Refrain II
Heave away, boys, Watch the fog bank rolling by, Every shape becomes a giant If you squint with fearful eyes.
Heave away, boys, Every wave can wear a face, And by morning what looked monstrous Was a barrel out of place.

Verse 3
By evening came a storm so fierce The mast began to groan. Lightning split the heavens And the sea began to moan.
The captain shouted through the gale,
"Reef the canvas there!"
But half the crew were swapping tales And nobody seemed to care.
One shouted,
"I've discovered where The Ark was built, my son!"
Another cried,
"I've got proof That Noah had a steam engine."
The captain rolled his eyes and said,
"I've heard that one before."
Then somebody unrolled a chart Across the cabin floor.

Refrain III
Heave away, boys, When the sea is black as coal, Every shadow grows a shadow In the corners of your soul.
Heave away, boys, Mind your eyes before your tongue, Half the terrors of the night watch Shrink before the morning sun.

Verse 4
Around midnight through the rain A light appeared ahead.
The crew all gathered at the bow.
"It's an angel!" someone said.
"A miracle!"
cried Calendar Kev.
"A sign!"
said somebody else.
The storm was making giants Of things nobody could tell.
The captain raised his telescope, Looked once and then looked twice.
"It's a lighthouse, lads."
And just like that,
The miracle got smaller.

Shanty Break
What did you see?
"A shining light!"
What was it then?
"It looked divine!"
What was it really?
"Well... a lighthouse, mate."
How'd it become an angel?
"Long night... rough sea... big imagination..."

Final Refrain
Heave away, boys, Now the dawn has brought its light, Funny how the sea looks different When you see the whole thing right.
Heave away, boys, Funny what a man can do, Making mountains out of molehills And sea monsters out of flotsam too.

Outro
By dawn the storm had blown itself Towards the eastern sky. Golden light broke through the clouds And painted sea and tide.
Then far ahead through morning mist, Beyond the rolling foam, Rose black towers, railway smoke, And church bells carried home.
The captain pointed with his pipe.
"That's Kingdom Ron."
I grabbed my bag.
"Go on then."
And off we went again.

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Part 3 Intro (spoken) The porter said, "Kingdom Ron's three days that way, If the weather behaves." I said, "And if it don't?" He said, "You'll drift into the Sea of Rumours." I asked, "What's that?" He shrugged. "Depends who you ask." Which should've been my first clue. Verse 1 We cast off just before sunrise From Apparently-on-Sea, A smoky iron steamer Bound for places yet to be. The gulls were wheeling overhead, The fog lay thick and low, And every man upon the deck Had somewhere else to go. A chap called Me-Mate-Says Mick Was leaning by the rail. He said, "I heard a giant fish was found What swallowed half of Wales." I said, "Who told you that?" He scratched his beard. "My mate." I said, "Did he see it?" Mick said, "No. But his cousin reckons yes." Refrain I Heave away, boys, Watch the lantern, watch the tide, Things look bigger in the darkness When there's nowhere else to hide. Heave away, boys, Half the monsters of the deep Started life as bits of driftwood Seen by tired men needing sleep. Verse 2 The wind picked up by afternoon, The clouds rolled dark and fast. Every tale aboard that ship Was bigger than the last. Old All-Ears Alan knew a bloke Who'd found the Spear of Fate. I said, "Where is it then?" He said, "Well... that's another debate." One sailor swore he'd seen a saint Walk barefoot on the foam. Another claimed Atlantis Was somewhere near Southend. A fisherman named Barry said The moon had changed its size. I asked him how he'd worked it out. He said, "It looks different some nights." Refrain II Heave away, boys, Watch the fog bank rolling by, Every shape becomes a giant If you squint with fearful eyes. Heave away, boys, Every wave can wear a face, And by morning what looked monstrous Was a barrel out of place. Verse 3 By evening came a storm so fierce The mast began to groan. Lightning split the heavens And the sea began to moan. The captain shouted through the gale, "Reef the canvas there!" But half the crew were swapping tales And nobody seemed to care. One shouted, "I've discovered where The Ark was built, my son!" Another cried, "I've got proof That Noah had a steam engine." The captain rolled his eyes and said, "I've heard that one before." Then somebody unrolled a chart Across the cabin floor. Refrain III Heave away, boys, When the sea is black as coal, Every shadow grows a shadow In the corners of your soul. Heave away, boys, Mind your eyes before your tongue, Half the terrors of the night watch Shrink before the morning sun. Verse 4 Around midnight through the rain A light appeared ahead. The crew all gathered at the bow. "It's an angel!" someone said. "A miracle!" cried Calendar Kev. "A sign!" said somebody else. The storm was making giants Of things nobody could tell. The captain raised his telescope, Looked once and then looked twice. "It's a lighthouse, lads." And just like that, The miracle got smaller. Shanty Break What did you see? "A shining light!" What was it then? "It looked divine!" What was it really? "Well... a lighthouse, mate." How'd it become an angel? "Long night... rough sea... big imagination..." Final Refrain Heave away, boys, Now the dawn has brought its light, Funny how the sea looks different When you see the whole thing right. Heave away, boys, Funny what a man can do, Making mountains out of molehills And sea monsters out of flotsam too. Outro By dawn the storm had blown itself Towards the eastern sky. Golden light broke through the clouds And painted sea and tide. Then far ahead through morning mist, Beyond the rolling foam, Rose black towers, railway smoke, And church bells carried home. The captain pointed with his pipe. "That's Kingdom Ron." I grabbed my bag. "Go on then." And off we went again.

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