Sea Diver was the last one released on the LP All The Young Dudes and a live version exists here from Hunter's solo career in 2010. The song is written from the perspective of a songwriter. One verse is about trying to get into the studio and the other verse about being in the studio. At one point Ian asked Mick Ronson for a string arrangement and he said twenty quid or a pittance. The orchestra leader understood Ronno's arrangement written on a Players cigarette packet; nonetheless, Hunter does not think Mick was ever paid. Ian says it is an intense song predicting his future as a songwriter decades down the road. He was hoping not to be one of those types falling about on stage; he is not and is doing just fine.
Ian Hunter for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
Sea Diver
(Ian Hunter)
On morning shadows you were ill-spent
"It's time", you said, or is it time you went
I tried so hard to leave you
I tried to sleep
The hours you keep
Oh Lord I wish I could escape this iron veil
Ride on my son
Ride on my son
Ride until you fail
Something comes and something goes
And something dies before it grows
And I'm like a sea diver
Who's lost in space
Sweet savage grace
Oh Lord I wish I could escape this iron veil
Ride on my son
Right on my son
Ride until you fail
| Sea Diver | 2:54 | Originally released on All The Young Dudes, also on Ballad of Mott - A Retrospective, Gold, The Golden Age of Rock n Roll, The Journey and The Very Best of Mott The Hoople. See also Ride On The Sun. |
| Sea Diver (live 29th November 1972) | 3:29 | This live version (recorded Tower Theater, Philadelphia PA) can be found on All The Way From Stockholm To Philadelphia, the In Performance box set, A Tale Of Two Cities and on the compilations Concert Anthology, Essential Young Dudes - Live And More, Greatest Hits Live and Live Dudes. |
| Sea Diver (live October 2010) | 2:51 | Originally a Mott The Hoople track. This live version (recorded at an unknown UK venue) issued on Live In The UK 2010. |