Retirement Song

The fourth track of the album Bones in the Ocean and a Longest Johns original, "Retirement Song" was written by Josh Bowker. Contrary to the common themes of most sailing songs, this song takes a cue from "Marching Inland" and Off to Sea, exploring the idea of just staying home.

Though originally released as an a cappella track, since late 2022, the band has performed this song live with full instrumental accompaniment, including a banjo solo from Andy, a slap bass breakdown from Antonio, and a drum solo from Florin. On May 1, 2026, a studio version of this new arrangement, also featuring perennial TLJ collaborator Alex Garden on fiddle, was released on Ends of the Earth as "Re-Retirement Song".

Factoids

Cat o' nine refers to a cat-o'-nine-tails, a rope whip with nine knotted cords, used for flogging sailors as punishment.^[1]

A crow's nest was a shelter or platform fixed at the masthead of a vessel as a place for a lookout to stand.^[2]

Lyrics

Since Robbie took over leading the song from Josh, a few lyrics have been changed. This set reflects the current version as performed live and on Ends of the Earth; where they differ from the Bones in the Ocean version, the originals are noted below with asterisks.

I've been roaming all my life and now I've found a lady wife
(I'm staying... right here!)
Oh, I won't go sailing any more, I won't obey the ocean's call
(I'm staying... right here!) [continues throughout verses]

{Chorus}
I'll be a man of the land
I'll be a man of the trees
I'll be a man wherever my woman will be
I won't be any captain's mate
I won't be servant of the seas
'Cause this pretty little woman is all I need

At 14 I was cabin boy to fearsome Captain Buckleroy
When I was sick he ordered cat o' nine until I said that I felt fine

{Chorus}

At 20 I manned our crow's nest and captain said I was the best
But I almost* lost my eyes to God just lookin' out for old Cape Cod

{Chorus}

At 25 no man alive could match my skill for gunnin'
But the captain he got drunk one night and broke** the blasted cannon

{Chorus}

Captain died at 28 and by then I was his first mate
Oh, they tried to give me his command but I was hungry for the land

{Chorus}

I jumped aboard at Morecambe Bay and made for Bristol down the way***
Oh, I fell in love when first I saw her, Avon County's finest daughter
(And now she's got me staying right here!)

{Chorus 2x}

*nearly
**sank
***Stepped ashore at Felixstowe and made for Bristol by the road

Recordings

Streaming/Purchase

Original EP version

Commodore 1864 version

10 Year Anniversary Edition - 2023 arrangement

10 Year Anniversary Edition - Remixed

Ends of the Earth version (Re-Retirement Song)

YouTube Videos

Gig Videos

Full Band Streams

Gaming Streams

[1] ttps://www.lexico.com/en/definition/cat-o'-nine-tails

[2] ttps://www.lexico.com/definition/crow's_nest

[1]

[2]