'Blue Boat Home' is another song from Peter Mayer, the American singer-songwriter we introduced back in August with his song 'Holy Now'.  In this piece, he borrows the beautiful old welsh tune 'Hyfrydol' and writes his own lyrics.   ‘Hyfrydol’ is one of Wales' most famous and beloved tunes.  It was written by Rowland Prichard in 1830 when he was 19 years of age.   He was a textile worker and amateur musician who wrote and published many songs.  The tune has been used in several popular hymns over the years, such as  'Come Thou Long Expected Jesus' (which uses text written by Charles Wesley).  

Blue Boat Home is an ode to the beauty and wonder of creation.  The writer asks us to widen our lens; to back up our perspective in order to see earth – like those first astronauts did - as a tiny blue speck in the vast ocean of the universe. He draws us into examining our world with child-like wonder.  Yet with this distant persepective, The narrator's voice is also very personal, speaking as one individual among many earthly sailors upon this vast ocean of the universe. It causes us to contemplate how our fates are very much bound together on this earthen vessel, this blue boat home. 

The song was arranged here as a duet featuring Ariel Smith and Andrew Smith on vocals.  The 6/8 time signature creates the feeling of going up and down on the waves, and the haunting melody begins low and pretty then builds and crescendos at the end of each verse.  I find the music retains a melancholic quality - in spite of the beauty and hopeful lift of the melody.  

This song appears on Peter’s album called Earth Town Square. Check out his music at petermayer.net

"Blue Boat Home"
by Andrew and Ariel Smith
words and arrangement by Peter Mayer (c) 2002 Peter Mayer
music by Rowland Hugh Prichard (1811-1877)

Though below me, I feel no motion
Standing on these mountains and plains
Far away from the rolling ocean
Still my dry land heart can say
I've been sailing all my life now
Never harbor or port have I known
The wide universe is the ocean I travel
And the earth is my blue boat home


Sun, my sail, and moon my rudder
As I ply the starry sea
Leaning over the edge in wonder
Casting questions into the deep
Drifting here with my ship's companions
All we kindred pilgrim souls
Making our way by the lights of the heavens
In our beautiful blue boat home


I give thanks to the waves upholding me
Hail the great winds urging me on
Greet the infinite sea before me
Sing the sky my sailor's song
I was born upon the fathoms
Never harbor or port have I known
The wide universe is the ocean I travel
And the earth is my blue boat home