Sunday Valley - (21) Sea Stories (Live @ Natasha's Bistro)

Audio only.

[@Maltozombie]

Well my Navy days are way behind me, and man I've got some stories. Some are funny, and some are sad, every one is true. Well, I logged a little over 5000 miles, I got a sparrow to show the glory. and the summer of '97 south of Singapore, I got my shellback too. First story about pulling into Thailand the first day after turning 19. They had King Cobras fightin' in boxing rings and pretty girls in fishbowls. Well, it seemed like a sailor's paradise, but it turned out to be a bad dream. I sold my heart to the devil on the second day and the third, I sold my soul. I was sittin' in a Sattahip go-go bar, and I met a little girl named Noi. She looked me in the eye and without a word I knew I had to make a scene. She led me upstairs and past Mama Song, she said "You got the money boy?" We got two to a room, I said "How old are you?" she looked at me and said "Fifteen..." Right then and there down deep inside I felt a little piece of me die. I started seeing visions all around and demons comin' outta the floor. There was nothing in the room but a washbowl, a mattress, and the heat of a thousand July’s. I said, "C'mon pack your bags, grab your things and Noi let's go." Spent the next 20 hours on a bus sitting next to a chicken cage and that's no lie. In a jungle that was darker than night, on a road 'bout as wide as my ass. Well, I told Noi I wanted to see where she was from, and to this day I couldn't tell you why. When we got there we found her daddy stoned out his mind, and that her mama had passed. Nevertheless, she never stopped smiling when her grandmother braided her hair. So I gave her my own picture, and a sinner's dream, and went and stood in the street. I still have her picture, she's still in my prayers. Even though I saw her the very next year Back in Sattahip, living the dream. Oh, I've got sea stories, they're all true. They might seem a little bit far-fetched Why would I lie to you? Oh, you wanna hear about anchor tattoos? and Davy Jones' locker? Don't talk to me. I wish I could give my sea stories back to the sea. Well the second story about a friend of mine, his initials were KC. We were buddies in training and when it was over, we went our separate ways. 'bout a year or so later he reported for duty aboard the U.S.S. RMD A little ship I was stationed on over in Yokosuka Bay. Well it wasn't too long before KC met a pretty little Japanese lady. Every moon he took her back home to meet her little Japanese mammy and pappy. The next thing they were married, and before I knew it they were having a little bitty baby What happened next makes me wonder if God really wants us all to be happy. Well I was sounding the bell on a rainy day when I heard my name called. It was the officer up a deck saying that the chief needed to see me. I said "Oh this can't be good." and I headed off at a crawl. He was hanging up the phone when I walked in and he said "That was your friend Kasey..." Right there before was my sea-daddy looking like he needed a hug. I said "Chief is everything okay?" and then he looked like he was gonna cry. He said, "We better hurry up and get there fast, sounds like they're gonna pull the plug." and Kasey wants you there with him when his wife and little baby die. Well not a word was spoken, and we rode in silence, only sound was the pouring rain We got to the hospital, found the room, and then the whole thing went down. Well, next to Jesus dying you can't imagine that kind of pain. There was an ocean of agony in the room, I thought I was gonna drown. Oh, I've got sea stories, they're all true. They might seem a little bit far-fetched Why would I lie to you? This ain't no blockbuster pirate movie, and I ain't no fuckin' Captain Jack. Wish I could put my sea stories in a sea chest, drag 'em to the ocean, and give 'em back. Well I left the orient far behind sailing waters that had long been charted Spent my last night in Tokyo in the arms of a Colombian girl. I crossed the Pacific in '99, it feels like it's when my life started the first night I laid out under the stars was the night I met the world. I don't miss the Navy with its work and boredom, I sure as hell don't miss the chow. but to this day when I lay down, I miss sleeping on the sea. Well, we pulled into Puget Sound with the killer whales swimming off the bow. from Yokosuka Bay, to the Juan de Fuca, a couple days just shy of week three. Soon many good friends said their goodbyes and my days became dark and lonely. I saw Seattle, and I saw some sights but nothing much ever occurred. Then one day I met a girl who soon became my one and only. Every moment I could get away from the ship you know I spent with her. She was a brown-eyed maiden from Alameida, moved north when she was young Told me she remembered the ride up in the backseat by herself. I guess her mama had to get away from daddy and her two daughters was all she'd brung. and I found out later that her daddy beat her and a little bit of god knows what else. Well, we was all gravy, she was my baby, one day I went back home. Gone to visit my friends and family for the first time in years. Soon as I got back to her, I stepped off the plane. Lord, I knew there was something wrong. Said she went to a party, sailors gave her a drink, and then nothing after that was too clear. Well I knew if I went out to see one of them men again I'd have blood on my hands. So instead, I got out of the Navy, and I drove home with her by my side. Well mistakes were made, and the memories linger and I'll probably never understand. And the one time I thought I was saving her life, it turns out that she saved mine. Oh, I've got sea stories, they're all true. Might seem a little bit far-fetched Why would I lie to you? I still got a little salt running through my veins from some of the things I've seen. I've got sea stories, inside of me. \mm/

[@igmaticdrummer]

Impressive!

[@johnleonard6604]

Thanks

[@rickhorn5251]

Thanks for the lyrics, awesome song

[@zosodude13]

Thanks! Also, the question mark you have is the "Juan de Fuca"

[@Maltozombie]

@@zosodude13 Thank you so much! I listened to this in the car maybe 100 times and still couldn't hear that correctly.

[@RailroadOfSin]

The lyrics to this are absolutely haunting.

[@markosborne2663]

The evolution of Sturgills writing and music compositions have evolved faster and farther than anyone i remember in history. Working and touring your ass off and being observant and cognizant of the world around you pays off big time. Guy is a true artist and the biggest personal influence on me musically in my life. SO Glad this is on video

[@The_Hayseed]

After hearing this one now I truly understand the one on Sailors Guide to Earth.. Sturgill is a musical Genius

[@h.r.puffnstuff8705]

Love and hate all in the same sentence..

[@ACFreakification]

Sturg’ is quite simply a man who ‘gets it’ and has an otherworldly gift of putting those feelings into music. This tune in particular carries on a deep and important oral tradition of reckoning with the world while at sea, and coming back home to tell your buddies about the good and the bad.

[@lastlogicallib]

@@ACFreakification So is this the original version? I’m not necessarily asking if this band was the first to do it. If so, even better, but what I’m asking is, is this how the song is traditionally arranged. Sea Stories, the version with the horns and everything, from Sailor’s Guide, has always been my favorite song of his.

[@HectorSuxxx69]

@@lastlogicallibI’m pretty sure this was sturgill’s band and him singing . So yeah I think it’s the original

[@jorgependejo6399]

Army, baby Marine corps, air force, all us old wrinkle balled salts have the same stories, but few can spin them into musical tales like this man! Love it!

[@Shed_Heeran]

"Might seem a little far fetched but why would I lie to you"

[@corymayberry2012]

USAF retired, 100% true...Those city names ring alot of old bells

[@jimmyb2030]

That was very unpolished yet absolutely beautiful.

[@silasfulsom8824]

This song brings back some nostalgia for this ol’ Jarhead!

[@angelbebeisit]

Well this is fucking amazing, Caleb. I had no idea sea stories had an alternate beginning.

[@chrisboggess18]

Seemed like a Sailors paradise ,but turned out to be a bad dream.. Thx for posting

[@rustyjohnson8431]

I love the album version it may be my favorite track on the album but this should have been on there

[@FestivalVestibule]

What a fucking gem 💎

[@tammer6731]

Good Golly… Thank You Caleb for this Awesome Jam .. te…. livin2dye

[@gertman421]

This song both haunts and comforts me. I love and hate to hear that someone went through some similar shit that I did

[@toylermiyoto1963]

This is actually the best song

[@ryanoverfelt3962]

You deserve a medal for posting this. Bless you, sir.

[@davidleeoutdoors]

Close your eyes and you can see it in 3rd person and feel his pain but we will never know how deep his hurt was/is

[@roderickketterling6391]

Caleb, thank you for preserving these

[@jeremybuchanan957]

Thankful for these hidden gems, unfortunately the best music usually can’t be downloaded or bought

[@dazed37]

Absolutely incredible. This recording has been playing all Sunday. Thanks for this , Caleb!

[@gonzomisterstreet]

Where has this gem been hiding?

[@igmaticdrummer]

I picked it up from a Facebook fan group. No idea where it originally came from or who taped it?

[@gonzomisterstreet]

@@igmaticdrummer nice find. I didn't realize Sea Stories had been kicked around so long prior to 'Sailors Guide'

[@naughtmeenaym869]

Whoa! Whoa! Evolution is REAL.

[@joshemery5147]

Is this a traditional song? Who is the wrote the original lyrics? Sorry I'm a Vet US Navy sailor and this speaks to me. Most of the time I wish it didn't, but I remember & can relate.

[@igmaticdrummer]

This is an original song from Sturgill Simpson when he was in Sunday Valley that is about his time in the Navy. This was an early longer version. The studio version is on his album A Sailor's Guide To Earth. Check it out.

[@joshemery5147]

@@igmaticdrummer heck yeah, I love it thanks!

[@brandonjohnson9781]

For someone thinking of enlisting in the navy, I have one question. If you could go back would you or would you not? The answer to that is the only answer I need.

[@heaththompson6058]

@ Brandon, I spent almost 10 years in the Navy. I was stationed right out of Yokosuka, have been to most of the ports Stugill talks about in the studio version, went to Australia twice, am a Shell Back and even did a tour in Afghanistan. The work does suck at times and the chow is shit damn near all the time, but I wouldn't trade my experiences in and would definitely do it all over again. He's right when he says he hasn't slept the same since he's been back on dry land. The best sleep I've ever had was under way.aybe it was a combination of the long hours and the rocking of the ship. All I can say is once a sailor, always a sailor. The sea will always call to you whether you live near the beach or in a land locked state.

[@Shed_Heeran]

@@brandonjohnson9781 not Navy but Army 17 years (so far). Would do it all again.

[@kylebearce9361]

This is legendary!

[@caswede9055]

Awesome stuff!

[@michaelviens2894]

Thank you!!

[@olchevy7983]

Dang it that was good !

[@coryanderson6854]

Some people just have that voice!

[@Victoryin1945]

BEAUTIFUL!!!

[@rickhorn5251]

Love this Caleb Lewis

[@stevendodge9328]

One kick ass tune

[@kdrago7790]

Wow wow I!! Never knew he wrote this baaaack then! Thx for posting!

[@BBMJ-ub2lr]

Good stuff thanks for posting!

[@sethhill-anderson8213]

Any guitar players out there that can place the chords in this? Strumming pattern seems simple enough I would love to be able to play this someday :)

[@Tcolesanti]

Where is KC now?

[@toylermiyoto1963]

Local bar

[@OccupyMelody]

This is Sturgill’s autobiography. Wow.

[@HIMOTHYCOMMENTS]

🔥5:45🔥 8:55🔥

[@scragjonezv4843]

This is wild lol

[@CKelley304]

holy shit

[@homeslipper]

Sing it boy, sing. My old man did a solid twenty as Navy Chief cold war spook and every word is true. Every Every Dam Nek Verginny word is true.

[@codyhenry3926]

🏴‍☠️🤘🖤

[@roger4131]

Zen

[@CalupHouse]

Anyone got a story on who Noy is?

[@yuma3105]

"I was sitting inside a heap go-go bar, and I met a little girl named Noi." This should read, "sitting inside a Sattahip go-go bar". Sattahip is the site of the Thai Royal Navy Base and port call for US Navy ships. Noi is a very, very common name in Thailand frequently adopted by bar girls as it's easy to pronounce for their bar's customers.

[@reestsetsakis6757]

Dang just typed all that....you already had it right lol

[@jerryh5857]

Carve my name in the bar stool

[@shawnwaters87]

Sturgill Simpson is God