The same year The Titanic went down, so did the Christmas tree schooner Rouse Simmons. This was The Great Lakes, and the German tradition of trees for the holidays (free for the poor) was in full swing. The lore of this particular joy-bringer being lost has inspired many a sailor’s yarn.
Paul Behrend narrates and warbles “The Christmas Ship.” If you wanted to know what happened, poetical-like, here’s the folk-pop verzh.
True folk from Dan Hildebrand, “The Ballad of the Christmas Tree Ship” focuses on the scary, wet storm as well as the wet, washed up trees.
The Patrick Brothers attempt pathos by stretching out every syllable and note in the folky “The Christmas Ship.” The flute makes it ghostly, too. But it becomes maudlin.
Mike Aiken applies more pop to his Carib maritime melody “Christmas Schooner.” It’s all upbeat here. Nobody sinks. The music, on the other hand, causes sleepiness.
Oh Papa, come look, shanties Lee Murdock in “The Christmas Ship.” The glory of the great sailing actually overshadows the tragedy here, a fine memorial.
Novelty relief oars in from Claire Margaret Corlett who only wants to kill herself “This Christmas Eve.” The flapper-style jazz is a cute contrast to lyrics like: I wanna slit my throat, or get eaten by a goat, Or tie myself up and drown slowly in a boat. (Ha ha?)
