Members Dean Calin, Christie Dalby, Gina Dalby, Jon Krivitzky and David Yondorf have traveled across the US and Europe together, bringing their inimitable style of music to music and maritime festivals and other venues.
Bounding Main has produced four CDs, all well received internationally. Their music is sold through Apple iTunes, Amazon.com, CD Baby, Last.fm and other music distribution channels.
Pump Shanty
Bounding Main Lyrics
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That really now is quite profound
I'd like to push the capstan round
but it's pump me' boys, before we drown
Pump me' boys, pump her dry
Down to hell and up to the sky
Bend your back and break your bones
The ocean we all do adore
So come on lads, lets pump som more
Don't worry if you're stiff and sore
I believe we've pumped this bit before
Pump me' boys, pump her dry
Down to hell and up to the sky
Bend your back and break your bones
We're just a thousand miles from home
The captains daughter I suppose
Could be called an English rose
What would you think when I propose
The pox she gave to me a dose
Pump me' boys, pump her dry
Down to hell and up to the sky
Bend your back and break your bones
We're just a thousand miles from home
This rose well she did prick me sore
I never felt so bad before
Thanks to the girl I did adore
I believe I'll never pump no more
Pump me' boys, pump her dry
Down to hell and up to the sky
Bend your back and break your bones
We're just a thousand miles from home
I called the doctor right away
To find out what he had to say
"That's two pounds ten, get on your way"
I'm sure the girl is in his pay
Pump me' boys, pump her dry
Down to hell and up to the sky
Bend your back and break your bones
We're just a thousand miles from home
There's so much water down below
Just how it got there, I don't know
The old man says "let's roll and go"
But I think we're bound for Davy Jones'
Pump me' boys, pump her dry
Down to hell and up to the sky
Bend your back and break your bones
We're just a thousand miles from home
Pump me' boys, pump her dry
Down to hell and up to the sky
Bend your back and break your bones
We're just a thousand miles from home
The lyrics to Bounding Main's song "Pump Shanty" describe the experience of sailors on a ship, trying to keep it afloat by pumping water out of it before they drown. The first verse acknowledges the reality that life has its ups and downs, but what the sailors really need to focus on is pumping the water out to keep the ship from sinking. The chorus repeats the call to pump, with a sense of urgency and desperation, emphasizing the hard physical labor and sacrifice required to survive at sea. The second verse acknowledges the sailors' love for the ocean and the need to continue pumping, despite their physical discomfort.
The third verse takes a more lighthearted turn, as the singer talks about a woman he met, the captain's daughter, whom he finds attractive (described as an English rose). However, he quickly reveals that she has given him a sexually transmitted disease, which he humorously blames on her prickly personality. Despite his pain, he continues to pump and seek medical help, but is frustrated to find that the doctor charges him money for the treatment. The song ends with a sense of ambiguity and unease, as the ship remains in danger and the sailors continue to toil.
Line by Line Meaning
They say life has it's ups and downs
It's a profound observation that life has its highs and lows.
I'd like to push the capstan round
I wish to turn the capstan, a rotating machine for hoisting anchors and sails.
but it's pump me' boys, before we drown
But we must pump to remove water from the ship to avoid sinking.
Pump me' boys, pump her dry
Let's work together to pump the ship and make it dry.
Down to hell and up to the sky
We pump with all our might to remove water, which seems like going to hell, but once the ship is dry, we feel like we're in the sky.
Bend your back and break your bones
We must work very hard, even if it means injuring ourselves.
We're just a thousand miles from home
We're far away from home.
The ocean we all do adore
We love the ocean and sailing on it.
So come on lads, lets pump som more
Let's work harder and pump more water out of the ship.
Don't worry if you're stiff and sore
Don't worry if you're feeling stiff and sore from all the pumping; keep going.
I believe we've pumped this bit before
I think we already pumped this area, but we have to keep pumping because the water is returning.
The captains daughter I suppose
The daughter of the captain, I assume.
Could be called an English rose
She could be described as an English beauty.
What would you think when I propose
How would you react if I asked for her hand in marriage?
The pox she gave to me a dose
Unfortunately, she gave me a sexually transmitted disease.
This rose well she did prick me sore
This woman infected me with the STD, which caused me a great deal of pain.
I never felt so bad before
I have never felt so sick before.
Thanks to the girl I did adore
Thanks to the woman I loved, I am now sick.
I believe I'll never pump no more
I think I'll never be able to pump again due to my illness.
I called the doctor right away
I immediately called the doctor for help.
To find out what he had to say
To learn what advice he had for me.
"That's two pounds ten, get on your way"
"That'll be two pounds and ten shillings, go on your way," said the doctor.
I'm sure the girl is in his pay
I suspect the girl paid the doctor to not help me.
There's so much water down below
There's still a lot of water in the bottom of the ship.
Just how it got there, I don't know
I have no idea how that much water could have gotten in there.
The old man says "let's roll and go"
The captain said, "let's get going."
But I think we're bound for Davy Jones'
But I believe we're doomed to sink and go to the bottom of the sea.
Contributed by Elliot V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.