“But I would slave to learn the way to sink your ship of fools”
This week’s theme for Song Lyric Sunday is all things nautical, and my immediate first thought was this – one of my favourite Jerry ballads by the Grateful Dead. Searching my previous SLS posts I was relieved – indeed, pleasantly surprised – to find that I hadn’t used it before.
However, I have written about it in another post, back in 2018, when it qualified among a set of six as a song ‘that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget’.
I’ll just reproduce what I wrote then:
“Being made redundant was – and for all I know still is – an occupational hazard in the wild, wacky world of investment banking. It happened to me twice. As things turned out, the second time proved to be something of a blessing, but of course it didn’t feel like that at the time. What really rankled, though, was that I was sacked at the instigation of a cabal of spotty, over-promoted ‘wunderkind’ who had no idea of what my job entailed, so were in no position to judge my performance. Twats.”
That happened almost a quarter of a century ago, but it still rankles – although that at least is consistent with one of my principal mantras: ‘never forget, never forgive’. Anyway, it’s a great song, as well as being one to which I can strongly relate.
Went to see the captain, strangest I could find
Laid my proposition down, laid it on the line
I won’t slave for beggar’s pay, likewise gold and jewels
But I would slave to learn the way to sink your ship of fools
Ship of fools on a cruel sea
Ship of fools sail away from me
It was later than I thought when I first believed you
Now I cannot share your laughter, ship of fools
Saw your first ship sink and drown, from rocking of the boat
And all that could not sink or swim was just left there to float
I won’t leave you drifting down but whoa it makes me wild
With thirty years upon my head
To have you call me child
Ship of fools on a cruel sea
Ship of fools sail away from me
It was later than I thought when I first believed you
Now I cannot share your laughter, ship of fools
The bottles stand as empty
As they were filled before
Time there was and plenty
But from that cup no more
Though I could not caution all
I still might warn a few
Don’t lend your hand to raise no flag atop no ship of fools
Ship of fools on a cruel sea
Ship of fools sail away from me
It was later than I thought when I first believed you
Now I cannot share your laughter, ship of fools
Written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter
the only deadhead in the hameau 
Nice choice, great song, as you have to love jerry’s guitar in this. Ship of Fools is a slow ballad, and the lyrics tell a story of anger and defiance where a prospective crew member on the ship, confronts the captain “the strangest he could find” with a proposition. Oddly Garcia was often referred to as Captain Trips. This new guy on the crew might be on a fool’s errand, but he tells the captain that he would like to learn how to sink this ship, well whatever floats your boat. This sailor feels like he is sailing on a cruel sea, and he wants this ship of fools to sail away from him. He no longer thinks that the captain should be in charge, and he will not share his laughter on this ship of fools.
Easily one of my favorite Dead songs, oh Jerry.
Great song to feature. Also, great deployment of the word ‘twat’.