My baubles got lost in the ocean
A Festive Season Sea Shanty for Outdoor Swimmers
Michael O. Zahn, a reader from Poinciana, Florida, sent us this winter swimming sea shanty he wrote. While we’re not convinced the water in Florida is cool enough to bring about the effect explored in these lyrics, we thought we’d share it for some festive fun. Michael says the words were performed by the “London Budgie Smugglers Choir” to the tune of “My Bonnie”.
My baubles got lost in the ocean,
my baubles decamped in the sea,
my baubles took flight in cold water,
oh bring back my baubles to me!
Bring back, bring back,
oh bring back my baubles to me, to me
bring back, bring back,
oh bring back my baubles to me.
I know they were there in the warm car,
but now I’m in the North Sea,
I cannot feel their presence,
I fear they are shrinking from me
I never go out without them,
but now they are not to be seen,
the thrill of the chill has scared them,
both have fled to a cozy ravine
Last night as I lay on my pillow,
last night as I lay on my bed,
I know that I checked out my baubles,(just to make sure they were low)
My swim now has ended; I’m freezing!
A dryrobe, woolies, hot tea
surely will bring things to normal;
I keep checking down there, inbetween
The winds still blow over the ocean
The winds still blow over the sea
But the heat blasting from my car’s dash vents
has brought back my baubles to me
My baubles withdrew in the ocean
my baubles regressed in the sea,
my cowardly baubles retreated,
but my baubles have come back to me!