As winner of the inaugural "Trophée Stan Hugil… Read Full Bio ↴From Tom's website...
As winner of the inaugural "Trophée Stan Hugill", French fans dub Tom "The Springsteen of Sea Chanteys". Old Songs Festival (Altamont NY) declares "This man knows the sea ... from the bottom up!", whilst Living Tradition (UK) says "Although I always knew he was good, I was not quite prepared for HOW good." 24 years in the British Royal Navy, "provides him with that vitally authentic stance with which to tackle nautical song" Living Tradition.
Tom's repertoire—from traditional shanties to songs fashioned out of his own seafaring background—recruits his audience for a voyage by turns reflective, dramatic and humorous. Now resident in Canada's Rocky Mountains, Tom was born in Northern Ireland and that Celtic heritage is obvious in his clear, strong voice, evoking quiet sorrow for a fisherman lost to the sea just as honestly as it powers out a shanty "to be heard above the gales."
With songs that have become folk standards; known and sung wherever great choruses ring out; Tom accompanies himself on button accordion and ukulele—but it's that powerful vocal style and infectious humour—that quality of entertaining—which keeps audiences coming back again ... and again.
See his website at http://www.tomlewis.net/index.htm
Peking
Tom Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'd think she was nothing but old rusting steel
It's a miracle she's still around in these days
A century passed since she slipped down the ways
Long after the steamers ruled all seven seas
This was the name still made sailors' blood freeze
Peking, Peking, the name seems to ring
Long after the steamers ruled all seven seas
Peking was the name still made sailors' blood freeze
She was built when the rest of the trade turned to steam
To the liners who spied her she seemed like a dream
She was bigger and faster when under all sail
With a gale on the beam and the seas o're the rail
Both hands for the ship then she'll care of you
The apprentices, mates, the Old Man and the crew
So many young sailors from her learned their craft
Three masts with square rigging, one fore and aft
And young Irving Johnson, with camera in hand
Signed-on for a voyage with that hearty band
He heaved and he hauled standing tall in the ranks
Of Krauts, Scandahoovians, Limeys and Yanks
Peking, Peking, defying the odds
Surviving great wars by the luck of the gods
This tired old giant dreams glorious dreams
She's sailing forever on a silvery screen
Her crew never ageing, she sails for all time
In black and white glory the last of her line
In the song "Peking" by Tom Lewis, he sings about a ship that has lasted for over a century. At first glance, the ship appears to be nothing more than rusting steel, but it still stands tall as a relic of the past. The ship is named Peking, and in the days when steamers ruled the seas, just hearing her name was enough to send chills down sailors' spines.
Peking was a three-masted ship with square rigging, built at a time when most other ships were turning to steam. She was bigger and faster than her contemporaries and could handle even the roughest seas. Many young sailors learned their craft aboard Peking and sailed alongside people from all around the world.
Despite the many wars and conflicts that have taken place throughout her lifetime, Peking has somehow managed to survive. Even though she is now an old, tired giant, her legacy lives on in the minds of those who admire her. She will always sail onwards, beautiful and majestic on the silvery screen, even when her crew has long since aged and retired.
Overall, "Peking" by Tom Lewis is a beautiful tribute to a ship that has stood the test of time. It is an ode to the bravery and hard work of the sailors who sailed on her and the legacy that she has left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
With just a quick glance from the truck to the keel
With just one look at the ship, from front to back,
You'd think she was nothing but old rusting steel
You would assume that she is nothing more than corroding metal,
It's a miracle she's still around in these days
It is amazing that she still exists after all these years,
A century passed since she slipped down the ways
Almost 100 years have passed since she was built,
Long after the steamers ruled all seven seas
After the heyday of steamships,
This was the name still made sailors' blood freeze
The mere mention of Peking still struck fear in sailors,
Peking, Peking, the name seems to ring
The name Peking sticks in your mind,
And to see her in South Street would make your heart sing
Seeing her moored at South Street fills you with joy,
She was built when the rest of the trade turned to steam
She was built during a time when steam propulsion was replacing sail,
To the liners who spied her she seemed like a dream
She was a magnificent sight for the steamships that spotted her,
She was bigger and faster when under all sail
She was larger and more swift when using all of her sails,
With a gale on the beam and the seas o're the rail
As the wind hits her side and the water pours over the railing,
Both hands for the ship then she'll take care of you
If you work hard and do your best for the ship, she will take care of you,
The apprentices, mates, the Old Man and the crew
The new sailors, officers, captain, and crew,
So many young sailors from her learned their craft
Many young sailors honed their skills aboard her,
Three masts with square rigging, one fore and aft
She had three masts, each with horizontal yards and one vertical spar,
And young Irving Johnson, with camera in hand
One of the young sailors, Irving Johnson, had a camera with him,
Signed-on for a voyage with that hearty band
He joined the hearty crew for a voyage,
He heaved and he hauled standing tall in the ranks
He worked hard, standing tall among the others,
Of Krauts, Scandahoovians, Limeys and Yanks
Who were Germans, Scandinavians, English, and Americans,
Peking, Peking, defying the odds
Peking surpassed expectations,
Surviving great wars by the luck of the gods
Through some miraculous power, she survived many wars,
This tired old giant dreams glorious dreams
This worn-out giant dreams of magnificent things,
She's sailing forever on a silvery screen
She will sail on forever, immortalized in black and white film,
Her crew never ageing, she sails for all time
Her crew does not age, and she will sail on eternally,
In black and white glory the last of her line
In black and white, she is the last of her kind.
Contributed by Eva C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@georgetropicana9317
Thanks for the upload!
Can’t find this album anywhere!
@Buckwheatie
George,
It took me some time to find it again. I'm just glad I can do my part to preserve some of these! Gordon Bok's Schooners was another album which almost drove me mad trying to find it. I hope to upload some more albums soon, however taking a break to focus on schooling. Enjoy my friend and God bless.