Trawlerman
Trawlerman's Tale: A Sea of Love and Loss
Lyrics
Your father was a handsome man
Your father was an attractive man
Your father was a trawlerman
Your father worked as a trawlerman (a fisherman operating a trawler)
Your father was a trawlerman
Reiteration of the father's occupation as a trawlerman
Taken by an angry sea
He was lost at sea due to a violent or furious sea condition
All hands lost into the deep
All the crew members on the ship were lost in the deep waters
All hands lost into the deep
Reiteration of the tragic loss of all hands (crew members) into the deep sea
Child when I look at you and see a smile
A parent reminiscing about the joy of seeing their child smile
Child when I knew you were my side
Expressing the reassurance and comfort of having the child by their side
Goodbye my son
A farewell or goodbye to the child (possibly indicating a parting or separation)
My husband was a handsome man
A wife remembering her husband's attractiveness
My husband was a trawlerman
Her husband worked as a trawlerman
My husband was a trawlerman
Reiteration of the husband's occupation as a trawlerman
My children slept on nothing stand
Her children lived with scarcity, possibly indicating poverty or lack of resources
Far off shore the tempest roared
A storm raged far from the shore
Far off shore the tempest roared
Reiteration of the tempest roaring far from land
Hal away, hal away, hal away
An exclamation or chant, possibly related to maritime work or activities
Hal away, hal away, hal away
Repetition of the chant or exclamation
Hal away, hal away, hal away
Continued repetition of the chant or exclamation
Child when I look at you and see a smile
A parent finding joy in seeing their child smile
Child when I knew you were my side
Expressing the comfort and reassurance of having the child by their side
Goodbye my son
A farewell or goodbye to the child, similar to line 10
Hal away, hal away, hal away
Repetition of the chant or exclamation
Hal away, hal away, hal away
Continued repetition of the chant or exclamation
Hal away, hal away, hal away.
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