Dana – The Song of the Sea
This is a bonus page — not songs by David L. Edwards, but traditional sea shanties he performed as part of a special presentation. Songs are in the public domain.
Dana—The Song of the Sea is a presentation created by David L. Edwards in 1989, weaving together excerpts from Richard Dana’s moving account of his journey and traditional sea songs and shanties from maritime history. Dana’s book, Two Years Before the Mast, is a classic in American literature, telling of his experiences serving as a common sailor in the 1830s. We provide the full program as presented on January 15, 2016, followed by the song portions of the program independently.
This presentation was recorded before a live audience in The Lodge of the Fishermen of the Church of the Covenant, in Lynchburg, Virginia. Randy Layne was the reader, and David Edwards performed the songs.
Dana: The Song of the Sea (Full Program)
Richard Dana's book, Two Years Before the Mast, is an exciting narrative of a young man's voyage as a common seaman from Boston to California and back in the age of sail. Besides being the most accurate picture we have of the life of seamen of that time, it was influential in improving the living and working conditions of seamen.This is the full presentation, excerpts from Dana's book, along with David Edwards performing accompanying chanteys. The Performance List: 1. The Voyage Begins / The Leaving of Liverpool, 2. Work & Song / Cape Cod Girls, 3. Making Cape Horn / A Long Time Ago, Cape Horn, 4. Death at Sea / Lowlands, 5. California & Flogging / The Golden Vanity, 6. Homeward Bound at Last / Homeward Bound, 7. Under Full Sail at Night / Moonraker (Carol Edwards & Buddy Nash), 8. The Scurvy & Home Sighted / One More Day, 9. Making Port, the Journey Ends / Leave Her Johnny, Leave Her.
The Leaving of Liverpool
Cape Cod Girls
A Long Time Ago, Cape Horn
Lowlands
The Golden Vanity
Homeward Bound
Moonraker
One More Day
Leave Her Johnny, Leave Her