Unlike many old folk songs, the origins of this forebitter are well recorded. The clipper ship ‘David Crockett was built in 1853 and was captained by John A. Burgess from Somerset from 1860, until he was swept overboard on 25 June 1874. The song lyric depicts Burgess as a tough skipper which was true and probably accounts for why the ship was noted for it’s speedy Atlantic crossings.

Anyway, enough history, now to the song! This version starts with a harmonica solo and my plan was to stick something hauntingly redolent of the times on the front, which would of course require a half decent harmonica virtuoso. I got my people to contact Stevie Wonder’s people, feeling fairly certain that he’d jump at the chance. Nevertheless, herewith, without a half decent harmonica player..