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Writer's pictureMark Sheldan

Down On The Docks


acrylic painting by Mark Sheldan

True stories are sometimes the best tales told and this one delivers in an unapologetic way. This week's new release is a dock workers dirge; the gritty realities of life 'Down On The Docks'. For this recording, I sat by some driftwood at the water's edge taping tug boats sounding their horns, seagulls fighting overhead and machines crashing over the tide.


Man hard at work

The kerfuffle and busyness down on the docks kindled a flame inside me to write a song about their side of normal. Pounding rhythm guitar and a rolling fretless bass dance with industrial sounds and synthesized noises. It's not country, it's not folk, it's a Mark Sheldan special! Peter Honychurch Mitchell does a fantastic job of blending all these sounds together to create an atmosphere that sucks you into the mix. It's the sixth track of my 'Love'll Come a Runnin' album which reflects some of my early writing.


Aruba Sunset Booze Cruise

If I had my druthers, I'd be sailing from a different kind of dock. Maybe on a Caribbean cruise, a Hawaiian whaling adventure or a snorkelling boat in Jamaica. It certainly looks like I was having a good time on this booze cruise in Aruba. Over the years we've been on some fun cruises. Lea dreams about sailing around the Greek islands and floating on catamarans in Tahiti or Bora Bora. Sounds awesome, doesn't it? I got a few more years of work before that can happen. But it's on the bucket list. Until next time remember time keeps on rolling over driftwood and rocks.



Twisted Treasure

To listen to Down On The Docks on my songs page click here:

https://twistedgitarco.wixsite.com/marksheldan/my-songs


To download from Spotify click here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3fdnyfNCeTr6dXeVy3wC9H?si=ikkkiq3NSgqb4tKVyxqbUA


To listen to Lea Sheldan's new release of the week click here:

https://twistedgitarco.wixsite.com//leasheldan-1/songs


Sing along with the lyrics below:

Down On The Docks


On a cold October morning

The mist rose from the bay

Trucks rolled into the factory

For the quota of the day

The boys put on their coveralls

They push time cards in the clocks

One more day began that way

Down on the docks


Down on the docks the boss keeps on yelling

Telling his crew to move on

Time keeps on rolling over driftwood and rocks

Down on the docks


Here come the Portuguese sailors

There goes the ship from Japan

We transfer the load to the trailers

And they take 'em across our land

Then the great whistle blows and the silence is golden

There's no worker who'd ere touch a box

When the union shop comes to a stop

Down on the docks


Down on the docks the boss keeps on yelling

Telling his crew to move on

Time keeps on rolling over driftwood and rocks

Down on the docks


Down on the docks the boss keeps on yelling

Telling his crew to move on

Time keeps on rolling over driftwood and rocks

Down on the docks


Down on the docks the boss keeps on yelling

Telling his crew to move on

Time keeps on rolling over driftwood and rocks

Down on the docks


Written by Mark Sheldan

copyright 1991 Socan


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