Searching The Seas

Notes: This is a another song of reflection. In October of 1984 I began working on towed array sonar. Little did I know at that time but being involved with underwater sensor sytems would become a way of life until I retired. Along with Navy systems I also spent a few years working and helping design systems for the oil exploration industry. Many months were spent in Norway and the North Sea supporting that effort. Yes, it was a very interesting carrier. Chuck DeFontes recommended I capture that time in song. My family and former co-workers will appreciate the references in these lyrics. This is an ‘unplugged’ version which features minimal instrumentation.

Credits:
Jerry Jones - Lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar

Chuck DeFontes - Electric guitars, bass guitar, concertina and keyboards

Eric DiNenna - Drums and percussion

Produced and Engineered by Charles DeFontes

Lyrics:
The story begins in the Reagan year of 1984.
The ocean had called us to fight The Cold War,
This is the tale, climb aboard.

Travel in winter became a real thing.
Nothing waited till Spring.
In survival suits we weathered each day,
On the cold waters of Lake Pend Orielle.

They listened on the surface and far down below,
For an enemy silent and slow.
The sailors who served that we never did see,
Protect you and me, searching the seas.

Ten years later there's a new port of call,
It's downtown and new to us all.
The latitude changed and so we were told,
Looking for oil, the oceans gold.

The weeks that we spent afloat on the North Sea,
The loneliness claimed sanity.
The daytime would often turn into the night,
A well rested sleep, was endless fight.

Trolling for days back and forth we would go,
Hitting the seabed below.
We take it for granted the effort and fee,
Finding reserves, searching the seas.

The final sail that we set surely would rise,
Destined for North Caroline.
To mission the minds and to build the arrays,
Breaking the will, of the enemy waves.

All the lost on the big ships and small,
Time and knots captured them all.
The stern was our base where we gathered to meet,
Defending our flag and fleet, searching the seas.

They listened on the surface and far down below,
For an enemy silent and slow.
The sailors who served that we never did see,
Protect you and me, searching the seas.

Searching the seas, searching the seas, searching the seas…