Originally Posted by
sodascouts
I knew that it was a cover, but I didn't know what it was from. The lyrics are very "old school" - the guy on the boat is a sharp-dressed scoundrel type, threatened with condemnation for gambling with dice and drinking. That's a not a song that would have been written after 1970, lol, unless as satire. Of course, the fact that Don Henley is singing it is pretty ironic in itself!
Don Henley's version is actually the first time I heard the song - he introduced me to it. He does a good job with it, IMHO.
Here are the lyrics, if you don't know it:
I dreamed last night
I was on the boat to Heaven
By some chance
I had brought my dice along
And there I stood
And I hollered, "Someone fade me"
But the passengers, they knew right from wrong
And the people all said, "Sit down
Sit down, you're rockin the boat"
The people all said, "Sit down
Sit down, you're rockin the boat
'Cause the devil will drag you under
By the sharp lapels of your checkered coat
Sit down, sit down
Sit down, you're rockin the boat"
As I sailed
With those passengers to Heaven
By some chance
I found a bottle in my fist
And there I stood
Nicely passing out the whiskey
But the passengers were bound to resist
And the people all said, "Sit down
Sit down you're rockin the boat"
The people all said, "Sit down
Sit down, you're rockin the boat
'Cause the devil will drag you under
By the sharp lapels of your checkered coat
Sit down, sit down
Sit down, you're rockin the boat"
As we sailed
On that tiny boat to Heaven
Great big wave
Came and washed me overboard
And as I sank
Oh I hollered, "Someone save me"
That's the moment I woke up
Thank the Lord