{"id":19,"date":"2016-01-08T21:12:20","date_gmt":"2016-01-08T21:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mwpfoot.com\/mytrombones\/?p=19"},"modified":"2016-03-10T22:32:19","modified_gmt":"2016-03-10T22:32:19","slug":"squeeze-box","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mwpfoot.com\/mytrombones\/2016\/01\/08\/squeeze-box\/","title":{"rendered":"Squeeze Box"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wooden boat gatherings would typically end up as\u00a0a folk jam session below deck on one of the larger vessels. Music, singing, laughing, eating, drinking, smoking.<\/p>\n

My dad would add his guitar to the assembled concertinas, fiddles, spoons, strums, and whistles\u00a0.\u00a0My mom was always a proud audience member, “Somebody<\/em> has to listen!”<\/p>\n

With adults overflowing the main cabin, the kids would gather in the forward berths with books and dominoes. An older kid Jesse described a “drunken brawl” once … “braaaaawl” … still funny. He showed us a gallon Ziploc\u00a0bag packed with weed; we had no idea what that was either.<\/p>\n

\"concertina<\/p>\n

One morning after in Cass’ Marina found Tom and me with my parent’s friend Rick in the cockpit of Paddy West. Rick had a sleek little boat Adelaide in the same class that he often raced solo.<\/p>\n

Waiting for whatever, Rick picked up his concertina and played The Chivalrous Shark for the two of us.<\/p>\n

Most chivalrous fish of the ocean,
\nTo ladies forbearing and mild,
\nThough his record be dark,
\nThe man-eating shark
\nWill eat neither woman nor child.<\/p>\n

He dines upon seamen and skippers,
\nAnd tourists his hunger assuage,
\nAnd a fresh cabin boy
\nWill inspire him with joy
\nIf he’s past the maturity age.<\/p>\n

A doctor, a lawyer, a preacher,
\nHe’ll gobble one any fine day,
\nBut the ladies, God bless ’em
\nHe’ll only address ’em
\nPolitely and go on his way.<\/p>\n

…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Every sad Irish allegory should\u00a0be followed by a song like The Chivalrous Shark. It remains a favorite.<\/p>\n