In 1973, the Bubs celebrated their tenth reunion at Cambridge’s Sheraton Commander Hotel. Unfortunately, the mid-‘70’s brought harder times. Larger issues such as the Vietnam War, the Watergate Scandal, and the oil crisis resulted in less enthusiasm and opportunity for extra-curricular campus activities. Fortunately, a small but dedicated group of undergraduate singers, with the help of the Beelzebubs Alumni Association, managed to keep the group alive and strong by singing, traveling, and recording. Because the group survived these times, the Bubs remain Tufts’ longest running student organization. During the ‘70’s, the Bubs also began adding popular music to their usual repertoire of barbershop, doo-wop, gospel, and jazz.
The 1980’s brought prosperous times for the Bubs. Each year, the gigging schedule grew larger while tour destinations became increasingly farther from Tufts. By the end of the ‘80’s, the group’s most distant destinations included Florida, California, Colorado, and England. Also, on-campus enthusiasm for the group increased, resulting in stronger audition pools and more complex musical arrangements.
In the early 1990’s, the Bubs made several developments that not only changed the group’s own style but also permanently affected the characteristics of collegiate and contemporary a cappella. The 1991 album Foster St. almost completely abandoned the traditional arranging styles of glee club, doo-wop, and barbershop music and introduced a new brand of arranging which aimed to capture the driving nature of contemporary popular music.
Throughout the 1990’s and into the new millennium, the Bubs have continued to develop this new style while also performing some music of the group’s past. To date, the Bubs have recorded 25 studio and 3 live albums and have won several awards for performing and recording. They also boast an active alumni association whose Bubs Foundation raises funds for music in Boston’s public schools. The Bubs have traveled to nearly every corner of the United States and have toured Europe on several occasions. They have performed at colleges, corporate gigs, public and private elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, bar mitzvahs, wedding showers, restaurants, hospitals, churches, Fenway Park, the Bank North Garden, Disneyworld, Disneyland, Eurodisney, the United States embassies in France and England, on Late Night with David Letterman and back home in Goddard Chapel at the top of the hill in Medford, MA.
Come Sail Away
Tufts Beelzebubs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ive got to be free, free to face the life thats ahead of me
On board, Im the captain, so climb aboard
Well search for tomorrow on every shore
And Ill try, oh lord, Ill try to carry on
I look to the sea, reflections in the waves spark my memory
Some happy, some sad
We live happily forever, so the story goes
But somehow we missed out on that pot of gold
But well try best that we can to carry on
A gathering of angels appeared above my head
They sang to me this song of hope, and this is what they said
They said come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
I thought that they were angels, but to my surprise
They climbed aboard their starship and headed for the skies
Singing come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
The Tufts Beelzebubs’ “Come Sail Away” is a song about setting sail into the unknown and facing the future with determination and hope. The singer is leaving their past behind, seeking freedom from the limiting expectations of others and the constraints of their childhood dreams. They are the captain of their own journey, and together with their crew, they will search for new opportunities and possibilities.
As they sail away, the singer reflects on their memories and experiences, both happy and sad, and is reminded of the childhood friends that they once shared a dream of living happily forever. Despite missing out on that pot of gold, the singer is determined to make the best of their life and carry on with the journey they have chosen.
The song takes an unexpected turn when a gathering of angels appears and sings a song of hope to the singer. The angels invite them to come sail away with them, and the singer believes that they are being saved by these angels. However, to their surprise, the angels climb aboard their starship and head for the skies, leaving the singer to continue on their own journey. Despite this unexpected twist, the singer is determined to carry on and make the best of their journey, no matter what challenges may come their way.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sailing away, set an open course for the virgin sea
I am leaving everything behind and embarking on a new journey, with no set destination.
I've got to be free, free to face the life that's ahead of me
I need to break free from the confines of my past and fearlessly explore what lies ahead, without any restraint.
On board, I'm the captain, so climb aboard
As the captain of my own journey, I invite others to join me and share in the adventure.
We'll search for tomorrow on every shore
We will explore every possible opportunity, on land and sea, to find our path forward.
And I'll try, oh lord, I'll try to carry on
Through all the challenges and struggles, I will keep pushing forward and trying my best to succeed.
I look to the sea, reflections in the waves spark my memory
The vast ocean before me ignites my memories, both good and bad, reminding me of where I came from and what I have overcome.
Some happy, some sad
My memories are a mix of happy and sad moments, all of which have shaped me into who I am today.
I think of childhood friends and the dreams we had
I think back to the dreams and aspirations I shared with my childhood friends, and how I am now pursuing them on my own.
We live happily forever, so the story goes
The fairy tale ending we always dreamed of rarely comes true in real life.
But somehow we missed out on that pot of gold
Despite our efforts, we often fall short of the perfect ending we envisioned, but that shouldn't stop us from continuing our journey.
But we'll try best that we can to carry on
Despite the disappointments, we will press onward and do our best to find fulfillment on our journey.
A gathering of angels appeared above my head
In a moment of profound insight and inspiration, I feel as though a divine presence is watching over me.
They sang to me this song of hope, and this is what they said
The divine presence sings to me a song of hope, offering encouragement and a renewed sense of purpose.
They said come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me
The divine presence offers to join me on my journey, inspiring me to move forward with faith and determination.
I thought that they were angels, but to my surprise
I originally believed that the divine presence was an angel, but I come to realize that it is something much greater than I ever imagined.
They climbed aboard their starship and headed for the skies
The divine presence shows me that anything is possible and that the boundaries of my journey are limitless.
Singing come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me
The divine presence continues to offer me guidance and support throughout my journey, reminding me to keep pushing forward and to embrace the unknown.
Contributed by Eva W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.