PaddleWise by thread

From: Mark Arnold <mjamja_at_earthlink.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] Kayak Anthem
Date: Mon, 23 May 2005 17:34:04 -0500
Recently it has occurred to me that what kayaking really needs is an anthem.  Baseball has "Take Me out to the Ballgame",   Football has Monday Night Football's "Let's Party".  Hockey has that goofy organ stuff.  Even curling has its "Slip Sliding Away"  (or the Canadian version "Slip Sliding Ehh?").   I do not think the NBA has a theme song, but who really listens to the music when watching the Laker Girls.   

Anyway with this in mind I thought I would propose the following for your comments.
Its based on an old Tennessee Ernie Ford ballad about coal miners titled "16 Tons"
You can see the original lyrics and hear an audio clip at

http://www.ernieford.com/Sixteen%20Tons.htm   (courtesy of Kirk Olsen's diligent search).

My version is "16 Miles"

Some people say a man is made out of mud.  
But kayakers are made out of blubber and blood.  
Blubber and blood and skin on frame 
With a mind that's weak and a back that's strong.

You paddle 16 miles and what do you get.  
A whole lot wetter and deeper in debt.
St. Derek don't call me cause I can't go. 
I owe my soul to the kayak store.

I was born one morning when the wind did blow.  
I picked up a paddle and walked to the shore.
I paddled 16 miles through waves and cold 
Till the BCU let me join their fold.

You paddle 16 miles and what do you get. 
 A whole lot wetter and deeper in debt.
St. Dowd don't call me cause I can't go. 
I owe my soul to the kayak store.

If you see me coming you better draw to the side.
A lot of paddlers didn't and a lot capsized.
One paddle is a Euro and the other's Greenland
If the skeg don't steer, then the rudder can.

You paddle 16 miles and what to you get.  
A whole lot wetter and deeper in debt.
St Nigel don't call me cause I can't go. 
I owe my soul to the kayak store.
I owe my soul to the kayak store.

The following is spoken softly as the melody plays in the background:
Carbon fiber workout kayak -  4,500  dollars
Folding kayak and 4 piece paddle - 5,00 dollars
8 kayak trailer with deluxe storage box - 3,000 dollars
Trips to paddle all the places featured in Sea Kayaker fMagazine - 100,000 dollars
Being able to laugh at ourselves - Priceless

Mark J. Arnold
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************
From: Darryl <Darryl.Johnson_at_sympatico.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Anthem
Date: Mon, 23 May 2005 18:57:17 -0400
> Recently it has occurred to me that what kayaking really needs is an
> anthem.  Baseball has "Take Me out to the Ballgame",   Football has
> Monday Night Football's "Let's Party".  Hockey has that goofy organ
> stuff.  Even curling has its "Slip Sliding Away"  (or the Canadian
> version "Slip Sliding Ehh?").   I do not think the NBA has a theme
> song, but who really listens to the music when watching the Laker
> Girls.   
> 

Nice lyrics; but too complicated for this old guy. I'm happy with 
something simple, like: "Roll, Roll, Roll your boats,
Gently down the stream...."

Anyone ever hear the "Account" version of John Henry? I forget which 
group did it, but it's also an interesting take-off on the original.

-- 
  Darryl
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************
From: Bob Carter <revkayak_at_aptalaska.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Anthem
Date: Mon, 23 May 2005 15:34:30 -0800
My version is "16 Miles"



Sure to be a top ten hit...thanks for the laugh
Bob
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:42 PDT