The Battle Of Lake Travis

OnlyGavin

Stefan's recent posting of sea shanties and nautical themed songs, especially shipwrecks, made me remember this one I wrote back in 2020 about the tragic events at Lake Travis, Texas in September of that year. A mighty flotilla of boats filled with Trump supporters had gathered for a parade in support of the great man. These heroes' political fervor was not matched by nautical aptitude and most of them sank in the wake generated by each other's boats. Tragic. Not at all funny, and anyone who says the tears I cried that day were caused by laughter is a purveyor of fake news.

https://soundcloud.com/themysteriousbeings/the-battle-of-lake-travis

THE BATTLE OF LAKE TRAVIS

VERSE 1

In the year of 2020

We drove down to Lake Travis

Told the folks in the boats for the Trump parade

We'd like to join if they'd have us

They said, "Just line up behind boys

Welcome aboard shipmates

At half past three, we put to sea

To keep America great"

CHORUS 1

Splice the mainbrace, hoist the flag

Shiver me timbers me hearty

Earl's pontoon boat was soon afloat

And we were ready to party

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum

And a case of Miller Lite

Jolly Jack Tars on the reservoir

Ready to fight for our rights

VERSE 2

Earl got a tweet about a liberal fleet

Commanded by Captain Soros

Packed to the gunnels with masked men

And women, heading straight for us

It was maybe the grog, or maybe the fog

Of war made him broke formation

Glory bound, he turned the boat around

And sped off to save our nation

CHORUS 2

Splice the mainbrace, hoist the flag

Shiver me timbers me hearty

Others in our fleet had got the same tweet

And they joined in our war party

Through his telescope, Earl saw a boat

Cried, Bandits at 10 o'clock

Set course for the foe, crying, "Thar she blows!"

And ran right into a rock

VERSE 3

As we sank below the surface, the air was filled with curses

Coming from patriots' throats

The wake we left behind, when we left the line

Was sinking all their boats

But Earl didn't hear, his mind was on the beer

For Davy Jones' locker bound

He dove beneath the waves, but he couldn't save

The treasure and he almost drowned

MUSICAL BREAK

BRIDGE

Now Earl's an American hero

He went down with flags still flying

He couldn't save the beer

But he came close to dying, trying

CHORUS 3

Splice the mainbrace, hoist the flag

Shiver me timbers me hearty

We might not know how to keep a boat afloat

But we sure know how to party

That boat that Earl was after turned out to be the cops

Thank God that rock was in the way

Too helpless with laughter to clap us in irons

So we live to fight another day

CODA

Splice the mainbrace hoist the flag

Shiver me timbers me hearty

At the Battle of Lake Travis

In the year of 2020.

Copyright 2020 Gavin Sinclair

CorkingCrackBand

Hi @OnlyGavin
Ha! I don’t know how you managed to sing with your tongue placed so firmly in your cheek! A great use of humour.
Technically it’s great. A balanced mix, great, fun lyrics and a driving rhythm from the banjo. The break is a lot of fun too.
All best,

CCB

OnlyGavin

Thanks CCB. Glad you enjoyed it. The incident in question was a gift for a songwriter LOL.

RainyDayMan

That is very vivid! I can see all the events unfolding.

Good fun song Gavin!

[Deleted User]

Another amusing song, Gavin! The "arggh" toward the end with the fiddle in the background was a nice touch! Good work as usual! I enjoyed listening! 😀

Johnb68

I like your Bluegrass style. Your lyrics are very clever and you are a born story teller.

😀John B

OnlyGavin

Thanks Owen,, Icy and John for listening and commenting. One of those songs that just writes itself. I felt that it was an incident that deserved to be celebrated LOL.

MoraAmaroLaLoba

Hola @OnlyGavin

Oh la la!! ha ha ha I enjoyed it a lot, the entire story, humor save our dreams and smile!! Each new song is better and better, great another one!!!! Groarrrr!! grrrr!!

ChrisPrice

I hope you have an equally jolly ditty in store in case the big, fat orange one returns to power over the big pond. This is a splendid affair. '....Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum, and a case of Miller Lite'. That's the line which won me over. 😂

OnlyGavin

Thanks for listening and commenting, Mora and Chris. Glad you enjoyed this little piece of nonsense. ;)

ReneAsologuitar

Fun and amusing, indeed.

Well written.

IronKnee

Ha....good fun, Gavin, as usual. Love the lyrical story. Just a fun listen. Thanks!!

ElvisNash

Good political song man ,I enjoyed it