Retirement Song

The fourth track of the album Bones in the Ocean and a Longest Johns original, "Retirement Song" was written by Josh Bowker. Contrary to the common themes of most sailing songs, this song takes a cue from "Marching Inland" and Off to Sea, exploring the idea of just staying home.

Though originally released as an a cappella track, since late 2022, the band has performed it with full instrumental accompaniment, including a banjo solo from Andy and a slap bass breakdown from Antonio.

## Factoids

**Cat o' nine** refers to a cat-o'-nine-tails, a rope whip with nine knotted cords, used for flogging sailors as punishment.

A **crow's nest** was a shelter or platform fixed at the masthead of a vessel as a place for a lookout to stand.

## Lyrics

Since Robbie took over leading the song from Josh, a few lyrics have been changed. This set reflects the current version as performed live and on streams; where they differ from the album version, the originals are noted below with asterisks.

>
> I've been roaming all my life and now I've found a lady wife
>
> (I'm staying... right here!)
>
> Oh, I won't go sailing any more, I won't obey the ocean's call
>
> (I'm staying... right here!) [continues throughout verses]
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
> I'll be a man of the land
>
> I'll be a man of the trees
>
> I'll be a man wherever my woman will be
>
> I won't be any captain's mate
>
> I won't be servant of the seas
>
> 'Cause this pretty little woman is all I need
>
>
>
> At 14 I was cabin boy to fearsome Captain Buckleroy
>
> When I was sick he ordered cat o' nine until I said that I felt fine
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> At 20 I manned our crow's nest and captain said I was the best
>
> But I almost\* lost my eyes to God just lookin' out for old Cape Cod
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> At 25 no man alive could match my skill for gunnin'
>
> But the captain he got drunk one night and broke\*\* the blasted cannon
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Captain died at 28 and by then I was his first mate
>
> Oh, they tried to give me his command but I was hungry for the land
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> I jumped aboard at Morecambe Bay and made for Bristol down the way\*\*\*
>
> Oh, I fell in love when first I saw her, Avon County's finest daughter
>
> (And now she's got me staying right here!)
>
>
>
> {Chorus 2x}
>
>
>
>

\*nearly

\*\*sank

\*\*\*Stepped ashore at Felixstowe and made for Bristol by the road

## Recordings

#### Streaming/Purchase

Original EP version

* Amazon Music (Bones in the Ocean version)
* Apple Music/iTunes (Bones in the Ocean version)
* Bandcamp (Bones in the Ocean version)
* Deezer (Bones in the Ocean version)
* Pandora (Bones in the Ocean version)
* Spotify (Bones in the Ocean version

Commodore 1864 version

* Amazon Music (Commodore 1864 version)
* Apple Music/iTunes (Commodore 1864 version)
* Deezer (Commodore 1864 version)
* Pandora (Commodore 1864 version)
* Spotify (Commodore 1864 version)

10 Year Anniversary Edition - 2023 arrangement

* Amazon Music (2023)
* Apple Music/iTunes
* Bandcamp
* Deezer (2023)
* Pandora
* Spotify (2023)
* Tidal

10 Year Anniversary Edition - Remixed

* Amazon Music (Remix)
* Apple Music/iTunes
* Bandcamp
* Deezer (Remix)
* Pandora
* Spotify (Remix)
* Tidal

#### YouTube Videos

* Original EP version
* Commodore 1864 version
* 10 Year Anniversary Edition - 2023 arrangement
* 10 Year Anniversary Edition - Remixed

#### Gig Videos

* The Three Tuns, Bristol (29 Nov 2018)
* XXXIX Międzynarodowy Festiwal Piosenki Żeglarskiej (22 Feb 2020)
* XXXIX Międzynarodowy Festiwal Piosenki Żeglarskiej (23 Feb 2020)
* Falmouth Shanty Festival 2022, with The Severn Whalers
* Jimmy's - Liverpool (9 Dec 2022)
* Cursus Festival 2023

#### Full Band Streams

* The Longest Johns Impromptu Singing Stream! (17 Nov 2018)
* The Longest Johns and Friends, February Edition (New donation system) (27 Feb 2019)
* The Longest Johns Streamtember (4 Sept 2019)
* TLJ Christmas Party!! (18 Dec 2019)
* Isolation Stream 'n' Skypeathon! (1 Apr 2020)
* It's a stream! A Live stream! With The Longest Johns! (13 May 2020)
* It's hot! Stream was a bad choice... Or was it? (24 Jun 2020)
* Boulevard of Broken Streams (17 Feb 2021)
* Amazing Technicolor Stream-coat!! (7 Jul 2021)
* Be Stream And Not Heard (6 Oct 2021)
* Cadbury Stream Egg (13 Apr 2022)
* Hark the Herald Angels Stream (21 Dec 2022)
* Stream Girls (27 Apr 2023)
* Davestream Beleaver (30 May 2023)
* Stream Lantern (27 Sep 2023)
* JINGLE JAM DAY 8! The Longest Johns Live Jingle Jam Concert (8 Dec 2023)
* It Was Christmas Stream Babe (20 Dec 2023)

#### Gaming Streams

* Sea of Sings! with Spammals! SHANT! - 1/11/2020
* Let's get in the sea and do a music! - 14/05/2021
* SING OF THIEVES! JINGLE JAM 2021 - DAY 14! - THE LONGEST JOHNS (17 Dec 2021)

1. ↑ https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/cat-o'-nine-tails
2. ↑ https://www.lexico.com/definition/crow's\_nest