Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven, 1957 was a stunned town
Illegal bars and whorehouses for the many sailors
Who brought material to re- built the town
It was a summer and in bombed out neighbourhoods
There as accordion music
And patriotic songs from the war were sung
I was so young back then, and the whores spoilt me rotten
So many ships coming in they were busy and
Then there was the American base to service, but even
Then, at my tender age, I could not stop thinking
How efficient the Germans were they had lost but were
Strangely happy re- building the lost years, the war
Had cleaned their souls.
Cleanliness and Whores
The ship was old once it had been a big ship now it was small
it had been overtaking by time, its shower system had sea water
which was nice enough to cool off when it was hot.
After having a shower, you needed a bucket of fresh water to rinse
the salt away if not you would scratch all night have irritated skin
For month we did not have a proper wash when our ship docked in
Bremerhaven for repairs and we got fresh water found I had
an extra pair of socks I didn’t know about
it was wonderful having a hot shower I stayed under it til someone
complained I was using all the warm water, even today the sense
of cleanliness makes me shudder with delight.
Whatever I had done in my youth the night before it helped
to have a shower and wash the sin away the smell of “life buoy.”
the only soap we knew about, made the difference the whores
loved it they knew you were clean seamen
My wife and I return from our honeymoon, and what do we see?
There is a new regime that is overrunning my country.
I have the terrible feeling another war will begin.
It will be started by those goose stepping morons from Berlin.
I have been given orders to report to Bremerhaven.
A commission in the Third Reich’s navy I must begin.
After we appear at the Salzburg Festival tonight,
Maria, the children, and I must take flight.
We cannot stay around to collect the top prize.
Our escorts will receive a most unwelcome surprise.
I have every intention of disobeying the issued order.
My wife, children, and I will be across the Swiss border.
Inspired by the 1965 film “The Sound of Music”
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