I hope you’re not rockin the boat today. Because the world has enough troublemakers without you chimin’ in. And if you don’t know what I’m talkin’ about, then you probably shouldn’t even be reading this. Because you just won’t understand. And it’s probably a matter of your lack of education. Or enlightenment. Or esotericism.

Yeah, you just don’t get it.  

“Wow, Tony. Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed or what?”

Well, hopefully you’ve been reading my articles and listening to my podcast episodes long enough to detect my dripping sarcasm. But just in case you’re new to my wry Rhyme and Reason wit and wisdom, I’m not actually attacking do-gooders.

In fact, I are one. Or at least I aspire to be one.

“But what in the world are you talkin’ about then, Tony?”

Ok, I’ll get to that. But first, let me tell you a little story (one of thousands) about my full-time performing days. In my repertoire of cover songs I had a few personal favorites. Mostly I sang for the audience and what they wanted to hear. But some songs were on my list just because I liked ’em.

And one of those songs was called “Sit Down, You’re Rockin The Boat.”

It was written by Frank Loesser and published in 1950. And it was one of the songs featured in the musical “Guys and Dolls” and performed by Stubby Kaye. I talked about another song Stubby sang in that movie. And you can check that out here.

Anyway…

A much cooler version of that song was done by Don Henley. And you might remember him from the Eagles. Right? And apparently Henley’s version was on the soundtrack to a movie called “Leap of Faith” with Steve Martin. But I didn’t see that movie. And from what I can deduce, I’m glad I didn’t.

And I mean an oh so slight…well…slight. And I think most people miss it altogether.

But it takes a close look and listen. I’ll include the lyrics, and hopefully nobody’s gonna come after me for copyright reasons. And if you’ve never heard Don Henley’s version, you can check it out on YouTube. It’s sort of a reggae style, which I enjoy, and it’s the style I followed when I sang it live.

It has a little bit of the “plank in your own eye” message. But there’s also the hidden sarcasm toward people who would dare claim to know the difference between right and wrong. And the words mix in just a little bit of false doctrine to help prop up the straw man.

But, all that being said, I liked the “vibe” of the song enough to include it in my nightly repertoire. And I made sure to toss in some of my signature replacement lyrics when I sang it live.

So, there you go. A little backstory to an old song you probably never gave a second thought to before.

I dreamed last night I was on the boat to heaven.

And the people all said sit down

Cause the devil will drag you under

As I sailed with those passengers to heaven

And the people all said sit down

Cause the devil will drag you under

Oooh Oooh Oooh

As we sailed

And I said to myself sit down

Cause the devil will drag you under

Stay tuned,

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Or how about some music for kids

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