My father is the captain of the starship Unity,
And me and mama live on board to bear him company.
And I am of the age when I am anxious for to wed;
And I must choose a groom who'll win approval from my Dad.
Well, Johnny is fine, and Johnny is fair, and wishes me to wed.
And I would marry Johnny but my father up and said,
"I hate to tell you, daughter, what your mother never knew:
That tentacled mess is a son of mine, and so is kin to you."
Well, Jimmy is fine, with shining scales, and sweet as he can be.
And I would marry Jimmy, but my father said to me,
"I hate to tell you, daughter, what your mother never knew:
That hatchling too is an egg of mine, and so is kin to you."
Well, Zarin is fine and nine feet tall, and covered with purple hair.
And I would marry Zarin, but my father said, "Beware!
I hate to say it, my darlin' girl, but it's the same old tale,
And remembering what his mom was like, we're not sure he's a male."
Now, Brian is made of light and air, and rather hard to see.
At least he doesn't look as if he's any kin to me.
I said as much to Father, and he said, "Girl, mind your lip!
And never underestimate the captain of a ship."
Was ever there a maiden in so sad a fix as this?
If all my father says is true, I'll die a single miss.
For every single man on board is my own brother true--
I'll go and find my mother and I'll ask her what to do.
"Well, tidy your antennae, girl, and comb your hair so blue.
I've taught you that a skipper is a father to his crew.
He's doubtless laid each female in the galaxy, but still
He's not the critter that sired you, so marry whom you will!"
credits
from Rise Again (The Lost Concert),
released April 10, 2021
Lyrics by Anne Passovoy; parodying "Johnny Be Fair" (traditional)
During the pandemic, I've been filking online with my parrot, Basil, chirping along from my shoulder. Kanef. suggested that I add Strange Messenger to our repertoire. I hadn't heard it, but when I found you on Bandcamp, I loved it, (and the entire album). And every time I cover Strange Messenger, people are delighted to hear it. Debora VanHeyningen
The Alabama duo's fifth album exults in dusty Americana, showcasing rich vocal harmonies alongside blissful folk instrumentation. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 31, 2024