New Boats By MichaelTOMALES BAY, CA

Ominous, huh? I found it on a
deserted shoreline on NW
Vancouver Island, BC.

I stumbled on a Rolling Stone magazine the other day and my ignorance of popular culture was suddenly apparent. I've not heard a single song listed in the iTunes Top Ten. Something awful has happened because Dave Matthews and Tom Petty and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were not there. Seriously, they're gone.

So I looked up the listed number-one artist, Lorde (yes, just one name like Madonna and Cher). Turns out she is a 16-year-old New Zealander who is a singer-songwriter phenomenon. I listened to her hit, "Royals" and I was impressed. Her extraordinary lyrics confront the ostentatious consumption celebrated in popular music.

If you’re familiar with Lorde’s "Royals," read on, else take a minute to check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7T64Qo3bdU

And for the benefit of Log of Del Viento readers, I rewrote Lorde's song with a nautical bent. I named it "New Boats," then I thought how excellent it would be if the likes of Eileen Quinn were to record this version on her next album. Can anyone pass this on to Eileen? (Though she and Little Gidding may be retired.)

Enjoy!

I’ve always been a sailor done my best

I cut my teeth on worn-out lines, in a dinghy
And yes my boat’s a bit of a mess
Old mismatched gear, no yacht club envy

But every show’s like Musto, West Marine, SOLAS or you’re not safe

Rocna, Monitor, sign up for a charter
We don’t care, we’re sailing Oysters in our dreams
But every store is like new line, watermaker, put it on the credit card
new chain, bigger winch, Parasail spinnaker
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair

And we'll never have new boats (new boats)

It don't run in our blood
That kind of luxe just ain't for us
We crave a different kind of buzz

Let me be your cruiser (cruiser)
You can call me Sea Bee
And baby I'll sail, I'll sail, I'll sail, I'll sail
Let me live that fantasy

My friends and I—we've cracked the code

We sail our trusty good old boats across oceans
And everyone who knows us knows that we're fine with this
We didn't come from money

But every show’s like Musto, West Marine, SOLAS or you’re not safe

Rocna, Monitor, sign up for a charter
We don’t care, we’re sailing Oysters in our dreams
But every store is like new line, watermaker, put it on the credit card
new chain, bigger winch, Parasail spinnaker
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair

And we'll never have new boats (new boats)

It don't run in our blood
That kind of luxe just ain't for us
We crave a different kind of buzz

Let me be your cruiser (cruiser)

You can call me Sea Bee
And baby I'll sail, I'll sail, I'll sail, I'll sail
Let me live that fantasy

Ooh ooh oh

We're sailing like we ever dreamed
And I'm in love with being green
Ooh ooh oh
Cruising’s great without a care
We aren't caught up in your love affair

And we'll never have new boats (new boats)

It don't run in our blood
That kind of luxe just ain't for us
We crave a different kind of buzz
Let me be your cruiser (cruiser)
You can call me Sea Bee
And baby I'll sail, I'll sail, I'll sail, I'll sail
Let me live that fantasy

--MR

Making s'mores in the Bunsby Island group,
west coast of Vancouver Island, BC.