I wrote the words to this song while Karin and I swung at anchor in Boot Key Harbor, Marathon (in the Florida Keys). We were on our first cruise to the Bahamas. After reading it aboard s/v Mullet at cocktail hour one night, Ron, a
real musician, wrote the music shown below after the lyrics. (Ron also provided excellent navigation tips to the Bahamas)
Rollin’ Rocks while the tide goes high,
Winds blowin' North; nother front’s gone by.
Forgettin my dues, and searchin' for clues,
I got the Boot Key Harbor blues.
Swingin' on the hook, readin' someone’s book,
Don’t need nothing but some stew to cook.
And when the water’s low, the Iceman’ll tow,
If you’re in a jam, call Ron the Mullet man.
Bahamas bound or just killin' time,
There’s no finer place to unwind.
Waitin' for weather, like you should,
You’ll find the holdin' a bit too good.
If you’re hankerin' for a finer art,
Dingy to dockside, just fore dark.
Sip some knowledge from the bar,
Enjoy the strings of Joe’s guitar.
You’ll meet the captain on his way,
Round the world three diamonds say.
He’ll cook you a snake, give his Harley a spin,
Glean what you can, but hide your women.
David the ace; he likes to swim,
Off shore two hours and back again.
He’s traveled the globe in a sloop for fun,
With three galley pumps: water, wash and rum.
You’ll see the women coarse and fine,
Rollin' tobacco and sippin' wine.
Most are pretty, sun-bleached and thin,
A few are tougher than the men.
The breeze’ll blow the days on by,
And rock you at night in its lullaby.
You just can’t leave by sailin' away,
You’ll always keep part of Boot Key bay.
James K. Richardson
With thanks to Ron of s/v Mullet for the music (below), and minor revisions
Note: Ron also cut the second verse (retained above as optional).
Verses after third lost from his notes).
