Song picture
Pennies for the Boatman
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Mid-tempo pop song with string instrumentation. Written for the Sing Me a Story Foundation and inspired by a 10 year old's story (Bhumika from Bagalore, India).
childrens song acoustic
Artist picture
folk, folksy, pop, love songs, honest, beatles, mellow
Law Blank’s music has been described as sounding like “gunpowder sprinkled on top of decedent ice cream.” Law combines voyeuristically intimate experiences with sublimely honest views of love, loss, redemption, and, on occasion, the darker side of us all within a blend of acoustic pop and traditional singer-songwriter delivery. Law’s entry into songwriting was as awkward as a first kiss gone terribly wrong. It was in 1985 that he purchased his first sampling keyboard (with 1.2 seconds of looping time) creating lo-fi oddities that would help formulate his unique writing approach, as well as his quest to craft a song with actual chords. Over the next 20 years, Law continued to hone his craft, in collaboration with several band incarnations, as well as his current state as a solo artist. Law’s music over the years has been featured on college radio, as well as a live studio recording for NPR’s Homegrown Music with George Graham. Through it all, the constants remain the same: Law is passionate about the craft of writing and performing songs Law is always striving for a new voice; a unique way to express the common and universal topics and emotions we all feel Law is a big game hunter looking for the next killer hook Law currently is working with several co-writers, Steve Kolter, Robert DePriest, Sol Knopf and is working on his upcoming 2009 solo release.
Song Info
Genre
Pop • Dance-Pop
Charts
#4,907 today Peak #183
#2,565 in subgenre Peak #63
Author
Law Blank
Rights
2013 Drop the Anvil Music Publishing
Uploaded
April 30, 2013
Track Files
MP3
MP3 3.8 MB • 128 kbps • 4:06
Story behind the song
Bhumika, a 10 year old boy from Bagalore, India wrote a story about a boatman working and helping his grandfather. I used this as inspiration to write this song.
Lyrics
PENNIES FOR THE BOATMAN ©2013 Law Blank Under the dock in my hometown Runs a river of coffee brown Bank to bank each and every day The boatman journeys while the children play He’s taking passengers here and there The river can take him everywhere Will never ask anyone for pay If you listen to his stories while the boat it sways It’s the boatman A penny for the boatman It’s the boatman He’ll get you to the shore So you’re safe and warm and out of the storm Was a very long time ago My grandfather’s boat rocked to and fro When the winds pulled up all the trees Crashed his boat and pinned down both his knees My grandfather knew without a doubt The river had won there was no way out Until the boatman threw his line Pulled him out just in time Chorus His hands are big and strong On the boat where they belong Early morning to late afternoon And then he floats his boat to sleep Just behind the moon Chorus (2x) Flowing water underneath His firmly planted feet Another satisfying day As the boatman Sails away It’s raining pennies, pennies for the boatman
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