Liveaboard is a unusual track story from the get go, nonetheless, having mentioned that, it is a cool track to delve into with a enjoyable story!
I used to be dwelling in Cutler Bay in southern Miami Dade County in 2006 and common journeys had been the norm to the higher keys for me on the weekends. In 35 minutes from leaving the home, I might be sitting on the bar of. The Caribbean Membership in Key Largo. I might journey as far at Marathon to the Dockside Bar, with extra stops in Islamorada. The Keys had been at all times my favourite vacation spot. Moreover, my band “The Rabble Rousers” performed at “Gilberts” in Key Largo considerably usually.
I labored in Coral Gables and took the bus/prepare to work each weekday. There is a free paper in Miami known as “New Occasions” and I might usually choose one as much as learn on the forty minute journey in or out. This in the future a specific story struck me. It was centered on the anchorage in Marathon simply off the Dockside Bar. Apparently town was altering it is coverage and decreasing the anchor buoys. Lots of the individuals who lived on their boats for so long as thirty years, had been being evicted.
If this wasn’t an inspiration to put in writing a track, nothing was.
I sat down on a Saturday with the intent of writing a track about this unhappy occasion. It simply flowed out. Virtually with out pondering, with guitar in hand, I strummed a C add9 chord. It was excellent and pure chord for this track. There was no query for the subsequent chord which floated naturally to a F F6 F. It occurred to be an ideal match and I used to be off and operating! The concept as a songwriter, is to color an image of the scene for the listener and as luck would have it, I ended up with music that painted the image and impressed the lyrics.
In my thoughts I used to be picturing a sailor who lived day-to-day. Although it by no means says it, he is almost certainly getting on in years.
The intro to the track is:
“It is grits and grunts for breakfast I had ’em within the early morn’.
Dropped a line off the strict as I drank my espresso”
Right here, I am placing the protagonist within the highlight, proper off the bat. It’s kind of colloquial right here, in that I point out Grit’s and Grunts. After all everybody is aware of what “Grits” are, however what are “Grunts”? Grunts are a neighborhood South Florida fish. It is a poor man’s fish. They’re small, bony if filleted poorly, really very tasty. You will not discover them in markets for probably the most half. Once more, it is principally those that are on a funds. For the protagonist it is a free fish and a standard keys breakfast.
“LAST
NIGHT IT WAS YELLOWTAIL
I
CALL THAT THE GOOD LIFE”
Yellowtail is taken into account to be the best tasting snapper. Our man struck it fortunate final night time!
“LATER
I’LL HEAD TO THE MARINA
I
HEAR THEY GOT SOME WORK
G F
BUT I’LL GET OUT IN TIME, MAKE A BEE LINE
Am G
BACK
TO WHERE TODAY BEGAN”
Our protagonist wants work. Dwelling is not simple. He hears there’s work available so he is off for a great day of trustworthy work on the marina. Nonetheless, on the finish of the day he is making it again to his boat, as he says “Again To The place It All Started”, which is borrowed from Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers track of the identical title.
Structurally, and happily, all the things flowed, just like the tide, very naturally. with the chord development flowing with a G F Am G.
That is essential as a result of with it resolving on the ultimate G, (the 5 chord) it permits the track the choice of going to the subsequent verse, or going to the refrain. On this case it is the refrain.
“(refrain)
C Dm F G
‘CAUSE
I’M A LIVEABOARD
C C Dm F G
LIVEABOARD
C F Dm G
F Fmaj7″
On this case the refrain is predicated off of the basis chord of the track, G. A few notes right here nonetheless. Whereas the track anchor’s itself on the basis chord of C, the C used is a typical C chord, not like the primary chord of the verses, which is a C add9. The cool factor in regards to the C add9 is that it just about floats type of within the air. It’s extremely lite and ethereal because it flows about non-committal by way of the verses of the track.
The refrain nonetheless, I wished one thing definitive and assertive. Going with the straight C works completely as a result of that is the protagonist stating unequivocally, that he is a liveaboard. That is the life he is chosen. That is who he’s. He states this 4 instances, which once more, exhibits his assertiveness
The refrain is C Dm F G. Fairly easy. beginning on the 1chord (C) and ending on the chord 5 (G)
To complete it off it resolves with F Fmaj7
What this does, with the F Maj7 is resolve the track and provides the listener the reminder that a lot is gorgeous and it dissolves the protagonist’s little bit of aggravation. It takes him off his soapbox. Nonetheless, life isn’t simple for the principle character, as we see within the second verse, the place he will get thrown out of the marina he is lived in for many years.
THEY
THREW ME OUT OF OLD BOOT KEY
YOU
KNOW I LIVED THERE FOR YEARS
EVERYNIGHT
I’D WASH UP TO THAT DOCKSIDE BAR
BUT
BIG MONEY MOVED IN AND THEY MOVED ME OUT
I
AIN’T GOT NO MONEY, AIN’T GOT NO CLOUT
SO
I FIRED UP THE MOTOR
AND
OFF I GO
BUT
I’M OFF THE HIGHWAY AND I’M ON THE WAVES
OFF
TO GREET THE MORNING SUN
He is thrown out of his house port and with no different choices, he sails on with little cash. He, nonetheless, stays a defiant sailor, to the top saying “I am off the freeway and I am on the waves”
Nonetheless, extra frustrations are nonetheless to return. The perils and frustrations that probably exist on the water.
(coda)
F C
“BOWLIGHT,
STERNLIGHT, ANY LIGHT I CAN’T SEE NOTHIN’
I
NEED A FOGHORN
F C
BREAKAWAY,
GETAWAY, ANYWAY, I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE
Am F F Maj7
DAWN
The coda:
Once more, highlighting the stress and frustration of our protagonist, I am utilizing straight main chords to start out off with, on this case F and C… not less than to start out. After he blows off some steam. On the finish of the coda he says
C Am F G
“I can not look ahead to the daybreak”
The Am is important right here as his uncertainty rises to the floor. The Am underlines these emotions.
GOT ME AN ANCHOR IN JEWFISH CREEK
I’D LIKE TO SWIM WITH THE DOLPHINS….. however
THOSE
RED CROCODILE EYES THEY’RE PATROLLING
KEEPING
THEIR WATCH
AND
IT’S A HOT SUMMER DAY THINK I’LL FIND MY WAY
OVER
TO GILBERT’S BAR
WET
MY WHISTLE, TELL MY TALES TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO LISTEN
BUT
I’LL STAY ANCHORED RIGHT HERE UNTIL MY LUCK
AND
MONEY RUN OUT AND I GOTTA SHOVE OF
‘CAUSE
I’M A LIVEABOARD…..
©
August 13, 2006 Christopher R. Rehm
B.M.I.
Within the remaining verse our protagonist finds refuge at Gilbert’s in Key Largo. He will keep away from the crocs and head to the bar for just a few beers, make pals, As he declarers:
“BUT I’LL STAY ANCHORED RIGHT HERE UNTIL MY LUCK
AND MONEY RUN OUT AND I GOTTA SHOVE OFF
‘CAUSE I’M A LIVEABOARD”
I had written this track and actually by no means performed it apart from inside the home. I believed it was only a track that I wrote and actually, I used to be in between on climate I wished to play it out in public. My then spouse, Gigi, would at all times say to me “That is a very good track! You must play it out!”. I just about blew it off. Nonetheless, after across the sixth or seventh time, I type of began eager about it. I used to be at an open mic and albeit, I had just a few beers. My flip got here and I performed a few songs. My final track I did not know what to play? “Liveaboard” got here to thoughts and I simply mentioned “The hell with it. Lets get this over with. I will simply play Liveaboard and get that monkey off my again”
I performed it as my final track. I completed and cleared off the stage. As I handed individuals within the viewers, I misplaced depend of how many individuals complemented me on the track. Skilled performer, Matt Anderson requested me if he might play it at his gigs.
After I moved to Key West a few years in, I used to be strolling up Duval St. and road performer, the now late John Lamana was enjoying and I went as much as him and launched myself. To which he replied “You do not have to inform me who you might be! You are Chris Rehm. You wrote the track Liveaboard! After all I do know you!”
Shortly after I performed it on the open mic, it turned my signature track.
And I used to be able to put Liveaboard on the storage shelf!
It should be acknowledged that whereas right here, the protagonist is a salty man who survives daily, a liveaboard may be anybody similar to him, or, somebody who lives on their 300FT. $12M yacht will also be a liveaboard. To be a liveaboard all you must do is dwell in your boat.
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