James’s Note: A lot of my writing is inspired by old folk songs. This one is based on sea shanties. I always love it when an author can write something new that, if you didn’t know better, you’d swear was a traditional song. “The Hanging Tree” from The Hunger Games is a great example.
I took a walk down by the sea,
Loly, loly, lee
I took a walk down by the sea
and asked the Sea to marry me.
Oh good golly look and see
Loly, loly, lee
“I’m too wealthy,” said the Sea,
Loly, loly, lee
“I’m too wealthy,” said the Sea,
“Half the world belongs to me.”
Oh good golly look and see
Loly, loly, lee
“I’ll bring you precious jewels,” said me.
Loly, loly, lee
“I’ll bring you precious jewels,” said me,
“From mountains high above the Sea.”
Oh good golly look and see
Loly, loly, lee
“What care I for mountains?” said the Sea.
Loly, loly, lee
“What care I for mountains?” said the Sea.
“One day they will fall to me.”
Oh good golly look and see
Loly, loly, lee
“Oh, I will never leave,” said me.
Loly, loly, lee
“Oh, I will never leave,” said me.
“and dwell forever by the sea.”
Oh good golly look and see
Loly, loly, lee
“But I’m unfaithful,” said the Sea.
Loly, loly, lee
“But I’m unfaithful,” said the Sea.
“Ask the sailors lost to me.”
Oh good golly look and see
Loly, loly, lee
“Is there no way that you’ll have me?”
Loly, loly, lee
“Is there no way that you’ll have me?”
“And be my love,” I begged the Sea.
Oh good golly look and see
Loly, loly, lee
“Come drown beneath my waves,” said she.
Loly, loly, lee
“Come drown beneath my waves,” said she
“And always you’ll belong to me.”
Oh good golly look and see
Loly, loly, lee
I took a walk down by the sea,
Loly, loly, lee
I took a walk down by the sea
and that’s the last they heard of me.
Oh good golly look and see
Loly, loly, lee
Gray Matters: The Works of Sharon and James Gray 