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Nantucket

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"Nantucket" is a Longest Johns original written by Robbie Sattin. It's based on the true story of Matthew Starbuck, who left his family's whaling business to serve in the Continental Navy under Capt. John Paul Jones during the American Revolution, and was disowned by his Quaker community for doing so. The song was released as track 3 on Smoke + Oakum.

Factoids[]

Nantucket is an island off the coast of Massachusetts, although prior to 1795, the town on the island was called Sherburne. The community was central to the New England whaling industry in the 17th and 18th centuries, with the Starbuck family being particularly prominent. The character of Starbuck in Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick, though fictional, is named in reference to them.[1]

Quakers are members of a sect known as the Religious Society of Friends.[2] They were a prominent feature of Nantucket society at the time of the American Revolution. Many Quakers are strict pacifists, hence Matthew Starbuck's being disowned for joining in the war.

Jetsam is usually encountered as a noun meaning "items thrown overboard", often to lighten a ship; as a verb, naturally, it meant "to throw [something] overboard". "Jettison" is the modern term, coined in 1838.[5]

Try-pots were large pots used to render whale oil from blubber. In the 18th- and 19th-century New England whaling industry, whaling vessels frequently included a trywork, a brick furnace and set of try pots built into the deck, which allowed ships to stay at sea longer, rather than needing to bring the blubber into port for processing.[6]

A long gun was the standard type of cannon on a sailing vessel. In informal usage, the length was combined with the weight of shot; long nines would refer to full-length, 9-pounder guns.[7]

To hull a ship means to hit and pierce the hull with a projectile.[8] The implication is that they intend to sink the enemy ship, as opposed to capturing it.

Liberty's sons may be a reference to the Sons of Liberty, a name applied to several separatist groups during the years preceding the American Revolution.

Lyrics[]

These lyrics are taken from the version on the album Smoke + Oakum

I come from an island, and islander's ways
Breakers and Quakers and few of us stray
Hunting the oceans with men that won't tire
Nantucket sleigh rides and chimneys afire
Some may be wary and won't understand
Trading a spear for a flag in the hand
But jetsam the try pots, I'm shipping out east
Off to go hunting a different beast

{Chorus}
Fire flies from the long nines
Shot-handlers run about
The captain says we'll hull 'er
As though there was some doubt
And as we blow on the matches
And brace to take the shock
My mind is in Nantucket
Hauling whale meat into dock

I'm not used to bracing in weather so calm
Still making cheer when I hear the alarm
As iron and fire knock nails from the stern
The shoals are no longer my biggest concern
Our skipper is canny, a droll kind of soul
Heat of assault and he's still cracking jokes
"Ah, Mr Starbuck, your aim is quite rare"
"Well, I aims to sink her beyond disrepair"

{Chorus}

History favours the bold and the brave
Conquer the mountains and weather the waves
Now I'm away with all liberty's sons
Off down the channel to stand by the guns

{Chorus x2}

Recordings[]

Streaming/Purchase[]

YouTube Videos[]

Gig Videos[]

Full Band Streams[]

Gaming Streams[]

  1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nantucket
  2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quakers
  3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nantucket_sleighride
  4. ↑ https://www.coolantarctica.com/gallery/whales_whaling/0007.php
  5. ↑ https://www.etymonline.com/word/jetsam
  6. ↑ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Try_pot
  7. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_long_gun
  8. ↑ https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/hull
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