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Letters from Sea, 1864​-​1867

from Age and Wonder by The Waxwings

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about

These words were written by Christopher Otis Carter aboard the ship Whampoa, during his first voyage as captain. He kept a journal of letters to his wife, Margaret, who waited for him in Maine as he sailed his merchant vessel across the Atlantic, around Cape Horn, through the Pacific to Calcutta, and back again over the course of three years. Captain Carter is the great-great grandfather of Eric and Mark. -E.S.

lyrics

600 miles from the mouth of the Hoogly
This is the longest, weariest time I’ve ever known
To be such a short distance from the Port
Where your letters are waiting to be opened

Still I often think how wrong it is to complain
Of the wind and the weather when we can alter nothing
We should be content to take what comes
But we complain of trifles if we do not get trials

Out of the bay around the cape and cross the line
We begin to think we’re almost home
Oh what foolish mortals we are
So glad to get into port and so glad to get out again

September 8th West of the cape
A melancholy accident this morning at 2am
A boy fell overboard from aloft while furling sail
It was impossible to save him

Many are the thoughts that I shall have of you
As I pace the deck alone
I wonder if you’re looking at the full moon tonight
Knowing that you think of me, I must be content

…

Two of the men went to fighting today
Brought aft with bloody noses and torn shirts
I’ve put one of them in irons by himself in the hatch house
For he seems a little dangerous and slightly crazy

We go along tonight in a stream of phosphorescent light
In the ship’s wake like a fire in the darkness
I am reading your letters and writing these lines
I hope you’ll kiss the children for me

…

credits

from Age and Wonder, track released August 8, 2011

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The Waxwings Portland, Oregon

The Waxwings is a band of friends from Portland, OR. We take our diverse musical influences (classical, rock, folk, what have you) and channel them through acoustic instruments to unearth themes of love, loss and the pursuit of soul-searching redemption. ... more

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