Ships is one of the most well known, sensitive, and autobiographical songs in the Hunter catalog reprised by No Hard Feelings. The song describes the intense relationship and conflict that he had and worked through with his father: Walter Patterson. Ian understands that his father had a rough life as a soldier, policeman, and in the British Secret Service before a stroke floored him. As a youth Hunter viewed himself as a typical post-war idiot. The intensity of the conflict lessened as Ian matured and he grasped what his father had to deal with in life.
Musically there was little chance that they would see eye to eye but his father appreciated his book Diary of a Rock 'n' Roll Star. His father aspired to be a writer and he was proud of Ian's talent. He even tried to dissect his son's talent in his songwriting. One issue that father Hunter used was reverse psychology by telling Ian that he would not amount to anything thinking that would motivate him. The song relates actual events. Hunter bought his parents a Sheltie dog, Kayla, and when she had pups his parents kept all three. They took walks by the sea in Bispham on the Fylde coast. Both his parents thought Ian more of a writer than performer but this song went a long way to mending bridges and his father heard it before his passing at home on Caxton Avenue in Bispham in 1980. Father and son had made peace by then. Ian's mother was a bit miffed, though he honored her on Strings Attached, since she felt that her family contribution was downplayed and Ian's father got all the credit. After her husband's passing Ian's mum moved back to Shropshire.
The song was not easy to write and it took years to come out. Hunter began the song about the time of the John Cale workshop demos. Ian had the verses but no hook. However, sitting with Max Weinberg, the drummer, one night he happened to say `ships that pass in the night.' It was the original title. That provided Ian the impetus that he needed to finish the song. Hunter felt the song was just average; however, managers Steve Popovich and Sam Lederman thought more highly of it and encouraged him to finish the song. Good thing he did. The song became a Top Ten cover at #9 by Barry Manilow with key changes and modulations that had never occurred to Ian. When he was asked if he minded the different musical direction and mellow Manilow covering the song he responded that it made him a pretty penny; there is nothing to complain about that.
The theme of the song was explored again with No Hard Feelings.
There is also an early version, a Take 1 cut, and several live versions recorded throughout Hunter's career.
Also recorded at My Father's Place, Roslyn NY 12th June 1979 on Missing In Action.
The song is included in a medley on Rick Derringer & Friends.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
At 48:21 the song starts on the Derringer version:
https://youtu.be/NvQ79Bx26rs
Ships
(Ian Hunter)
We walked to the sea, just my father and me
and the dogs played around on the sand.
Winter cold cut the air, hanging still everywhere
dressed in gray did he say hold my hand?
I said love's easier when it's far away
We sat and watched the distant lights.
We're two ships that pass in the night
And we smile when we say it's alright.
We're still here, it's just that we're out of sight
like those ships that pass in the night.
There's a boat on the line where the sea meets the sky.
There's another that rides far behind.
And it seems you and I are like strangers a wide
Ways apart as we drift on through time.
He said it's harder now you're far away
We only read you when you write.
We're two ships that pass in the night
We both smile when we say it's alright.
We're still here, Oh it's just that we're out of sight
like those ships that pass in the night.
We're two ships that pass in the night
We're two ships that pass in the night
We're two ships that pass in the night
(Repeat and fade)
| Ships | 4:11 | Originally a single and album track, originally issued on You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic, also on the compilations The Collection, From The Knees Of My Heart, Old Records Never Die, Once Bitten Twice Shy, Shades of Ian Hunter and The Singles Collection 1975-83. |
| Ships (early version) | 5:24 | An 'early version' can be found on From The Knees Of My Heart. It is also on the 30th Anniversary mp3 issue of You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic (download only). |
| Ships (take 1) | 5:24 | A slightly different version is on the 2009 (30th Anniversary) and 2016 issues of You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic. |
| Ships (live 12th June 1979) | 6:49 | This live version (recorded at My Father's Place, Roslyn NY) can be found on Missing In Action, and on If You Wait Long Enough For Anything, You Can Get It On Sale (box set only). |
| Ships (live 11th September 1981) | (9:20) | This live version (recorded Dr. Pepper Music Festival, Pier 84, New York NY) was originally issued on the Ian Hunter Rocks video (VHS/Laserdisc only). The video (DVD) can also be found on It Never Happened (box set only); the audio can be found on From The Knees Of My Heart (not on the box set). It is part of a medley that also includes All The Young Dudes, Honaloochie Boogie and Roll Away The Stone. |
| Ships (live 29/30th January 2002) | 6:10 | This live version (recorded Sentrum Scene, Oslo Norway) was issued on Strings Attached. |
| Ships (live 2nd March 2008) | (10:08) | This live version (recorded at the Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford England) was issued on Acoustic Shadows (box set only). |
| Ships (live October 2010) | 5:07 | This live version (recorded at an unknown UK venue) was issued on Live In The UK 2010. |
Posts
