brainstorms

Monday March 13, 2006

waterfront ...

my shuffle finds another heart-tripping john lee hooker masterpiece i had not heard in years: i cover the waterfront

I cover
the waterfront
watchin'
the ships go by

I could see
everyone's baby,
but I couldn't see mine

I cover
the waterfront

I could see
them meeting their loved one
shakin' hands and laughin', talkin'
with their loved one

I couldn't see mine.

I still cover
the waterfront

a little girl
walked over to me
said o johnny
I said yea

so personally
and so long
coverin' this waterfront

I looked around
and to her face
I said I'll be here
till my baby come down.

...

[i have no idea where the various online lyrics for this song came from; they are quite different than what hooker is singing. this is a part of my transcription of the version included in the ultimate collection 1948-1990. corrections welcomed]