About a year ago I was at my daughter, Kaylee’s, cheer competitions at the San Diego Convention Center downtown. I took a break and headed to nearby Seaport Village and ended up sitting on an empty pier that overlooked a few rusty fishing boats. I think it was actually called “Tuna Pier” or something – and I started thinking about the Portuguese side of my family and what that pier was probably like when San Diego was a booming tuna / fishing town. Then, my mom asked me if I’d write something about my grandfather and Point Loma – and well, this song is kinda’ all of that.
Here are the lyrics :
“Tunaville”
Down by the waters edge
Where the seiner ships rust away
I rested on a mooring
On a pier next to the bay
A voice woke me from my daydream
As it broke into a song.
She stood amongst the hustle.
But only her voice belonged.
She sang of small islands
And the homes up in the hills.
Where neighbors felt like cousins
She called it Tunaville.
She sang of boats painted white.
A parade and the grand hall.
How her uncles fished the coastline.
They didn’t have much, but had it all
…but, the tourists – they ignored her
As the seiners rusted in the bay
And the seagulls – they kept calling. But …
I couldn’t look away
I couldn’t look away
When the canneries closed, she sang
And the fishermen all stayed home.
While the seiner ships sat idle.
In the bay all alone
And I looked around me.
Surrounded by tourist traps.
And the girl, she smiled sadly.
But I couldn’t smile back. Ohhh……
…but, the tourists – they ignored her
As the seiners rusted in the bay
And the seagulls – they kept calling. But …
I couldn’t look away
I couldn’t look away
Then the girl – she stopped singing
The tourists had all gone.
The seagulls had flown off
But I heard faint applause.
From one of the old seiners
A lone sailor arose.
He said just one word, “Obrigado”
And then the girl – she was gone.
Live life. Stay Healthy. Daydream a little.
– Scott
