Victoria Nautical Song Circle's
October 2000 Song Of The Month

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VALPARAISO IN A ROWBOAT

© Words and Music - Zeke Hoskins Zeke's Web Site

Windsor is a lovely port we're proud to sing about There's a warehouse full of whisky, though the Yankees do without And when Customs asks us where we're bound, we ship our oars and shout: "We're bound for Valparaiso in a rowboat"

Chorus: Pull your oars! We're on our way! With a thousand quarts of whisky bound for Valparaiso Bay And we haven't no intention for to see the U. S. A. We're bound for Valparaiso in a rowboat

Some say that for an ocean trip our craft is very small But we bold Canadian lads don't fear a little Cape Horn squall And a deep sea schooner's just too big to shoot Niagara Falls We're bound for Valparaiso in a rowboat

Chorus

We've sailed for Valparaiso twenty seven times this week But every time we've gotten to the mouth of Muddy Creek We've had to jettison our cargo 'cause the oarlock sprung a leak We're bound for Valparaiso in a rowboat

Chorus

Now some sing of Vancouver, of St John and Halifax But those salty water cities, they have nothing Windsor lacks We've a doryload of whisky and the muscles in our backs We're bound for Valparaiso in a rowboat

Chorus

Posted With Permission

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The price of liquor is mostly tax. Unsold booze is often kept in a bonded warehouse, meaning the tax hasn't been paid. When you take whisky out of the warehouse, you have to pay the tax ... unless it's for export, of course.

During Prohibition in the U.S., there was a dockside bonded warehouse in Windsor, Ont. (Across the river from Detroit). Men would bring a rowboat to the dock and check out a few cases of whisky. The Customs officer would ask, Are you paying tax, or exporting?" "Exporting", they would answer. "Where to?" "Valparaiso." The Customs man would nod and write it down in his book, and away they'd row. Half an hour later, they'd do the same thing again.

This is a sea chantey for them. I wrote it on Canada Day, while returning from cross-border shopping for my Dusty Strings Harp. It's on Reprieve!

Also on Virgo Rising "Voices Entwined" 1997