The Mesmerizing Procol Harum Lyric That’s Lost at Sea

Rock bands throughout the history of the genre have dealt with internal strife and artistic differences, often to the point that it tears them apart. The best of them can rise above it all and still deliver something special.

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Procol Harum reached that point in 1969, as members started to splinter over the direction of the band. Nonetheless, “A Salty Dog”, the title track to the album they released that year, found them reaching a majestic peak.

“Dog” Days

The British band Procol Harum made a major impact on the Summer of Love in 1967 with their unforgettable debut single “A Whiter Shade Of Pale”. In many ways, the song proved to be a double-edged sword for the band, even as it catapulted to No. 1 in the UK and the Top 5 in the US.

Because it had such a distinct, slow-moving sound, it caused their record company to expect more of the same. But this was a band that featured a lightning-throwing guitarist in Robin Trower. Meanwhile, Matthew Fisher, whose organ part distinguished “A Whiter Shade Of Pale”, felt lingering frustration over the fact that he wasn’t included as a co-writer in the song’s original credits.

By the time Procol Harum reached their third album, they were coming apart at the seams. Bassist Dave Knights joined Fisher in leaving the band after the release of the LP A Salty Dog in 1969. But Fisher stuck around long enough to produce the title track, which included a stirring orchestral score.

As was the case with many Procol Harum songs, lyricist Keith Reid wrote the words, and lead singer Gary Brooker handled the music. “A Salty Dog”, which clocked in at nearly five minutes, was a bit too long to be a hit single. But it nonetheless became a classic rock staple over the years, a kind of last hurrah for that version of this wonderful band.

Examining the Lyrics of “A Salty Dog”

Keith Reid tended to favor lyrics that could be interpreted in many different ways. The tale he tells in “A Salty Dog” is no different. For those who don’t know, the title phrase is nautical jargon for an old sailor. The song takes place out at sea, with a bunch of sailors either blessed or cursed as they weather an interminable trek.

At first, the sailors seem to be preparing for battle with another ship. “Let no one leave alive,” the captain orders the men. But shortly after that, it appears the narrator’s crew is also off to uncharted territory, with death a distinct possibility: “A twisted path, a tortured course/And no one left alive.”

The leader of these men has a powerful hold on them. “No lofty peak, nor fortress bold,” Brooker sings. “Could match our captain’s eye.” And where is he leading them? “A sand so white, and sea so blue/No mortal place at all.”

In the final verse, we’re back to the battle, with guns blazing and masts burning. Tears of joy flow from the sailors within the narrator’s crew. Having reached their destination, the narrator leaves us with a somewhat quizzical declaration: “Your witness, my own hand.”

We can assume that there’s some allegorical meaning behind “A Salty Dog”. Perhaps the captain is a godlike figure, and he has led these men to salvation. The sweeping music would seem to suggest as much. In any case, the song transports listeners to mystical seas and parts unknown, the thrill of the journey far more important than the mystery of the destination.

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