Song Description
The story of the AJ Meerwald, the official tall ship of the state of New Jersey.
| Song Length |
5:51 |
Genre |
Pop - Rock, Rock - Easy Listening |
| Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
Mood |
Composed |
| Language |
English |
| |
Lyrics
'The A J Meerwald's Tale [Bivalve's Pearl]'
By Joe Kozak [6/12/08]
V1
Since the days of the Lenape People
Oysters were the bayshore gems
And many a fisherman's family and fortune
Had come to depend on them
The 1920's found the village of Bivalve
A pearl of the industry's rise
And shipping sheds built by the railroad provided
Their market of goods and supplies
V2
The A J Meerwald was a Dorchester schooner,
An oyster dredge of her day
In 1928 she was the 'new style boat'
Designed for the Delaware bay
She danced on the wind and carried her load
No crew could ask for much more
Ever retaining her dignity
Amidst the burden she bore
Chorus:
The rigging stands tall as she heeds the bay's call
And feels the spray on her face
Though her years may be many, her spirit is plenty
And still glides o'er the shoals with grace
V3
But things weren't the same when the great depression came
And soon she was left to her moor
Then 1942 brought a mission anew
A Guard fireboat during the war
After duty was served and a break well deserved
Her baskets were full once more
Til the sickness spread across the oyster beds
Then a Clammer became her new chore
Chorus:
The rigging stands tall as she heeds the bay's call
And feels the spray on her face
Though the years may be many, her spirit is plenty
And glides o'er the shoals with elegance and grace
V4
After 20 years more and the burden she bore
Her favors were needed no more
Time led her astray and she fell in decay
Her days looked numbered, for sure
But sometimes my friend, when it looks like the end
A new destiny may await
Some people with vision gave her a new mission
And now she's the pearl of the state
So, if you look o'er the bay you may see her today
The A J Meerwald still sails
Frozen in time, a ship still in her prime
And still from Bivalve she hails
Chorus:
The rigging stands tall as she heeds the bay's call
And still feels the spray on her face
Though the years may be many, her spirit is plenty
And still glides o'er the shoals with grace