In September of 2004, a great white shark showed up in a lagoon near the Elizabeth Islands, not far from Woods Hole Massachusetts. My old stomping grounds. It was quite strange to see it swimming in figure eights over and over in the same deep lagoon near an age old and cherished swimming hole. I remember seeing the shark turn at the last second before hitting the rocks by the bridge, each time as it turned I saw its gills open pale blue and white. The gills looked like the bars on a jailhouse. I would sit and watch it for hours, mesmerized and terrified. Many scientists, marine biologists from WHOI and The Marine Biological Labs, local fisherman, photographers, songwriters, old-timers, law enforcement, the coast guard all scratched their heads wondering why it was stuck in an an endless pattern of making figure eights. Why would it not leave? The harbor was certainly deep enough. Much speculation was administered and the mystery was never solved. It continued the infinity pattern for weeks. Locals began charging $200 a head to ferry out tourists hoping to catch a glimpse or hook it with a barb. Eventually the almost 20 foot shark was forced out of the lagoon with underwater jets and the mouth of the lagoon sandbagged. It made world news and I wrote a song about it. My version of the story takes place a 100 years before when monsters were still slain not pondered and protected. Strong lyrics and based on a great fish story! Proud of this one.
lyrics
Figure Eights
When the great fish came all the people gathered round
The peaceful lagoon by the light of the moon
Some rowed together some sailed from town
They all gasped in horror at the monster Billy found
Slapping its tail on the water, like a saber
Churning bright lanterns in strange figure eights
In the shadows of the cedars
It startled the neighbors,
Where the ancient mariner’s gathered to debate
Some blamed the worms eating at its brain
Some said it washed up in a mighty hurricane
Some swore it was a devil an omen and a curse
Some swore it was female, preparing to give birth
A great white fish, a great white whale
With gills as big as a jail,
With a mouth full of teeth
It rose from the deep
The monster that swam in figure eights .
Early that same morning children dove from the bridge
To ride the knotty rope, in the currents by the ledge
Where no fear had ever entered their heads
This foe from the deep had invaded
Some paid a great fee, the monster to see
And waited for the tide to rise and set it free
They all stood in wonder on the edge of the lagoon
Where the only light was the light of the moon
A great white fish, a great white whale with gills as big as a jail
With a mouth full of teeth, it rose from the deep,
The monster, that swim in figure eights
The men rowed in dory’s two oarsman a piece
Into the realm of the great figure eight
They measured the monster at 17 feet
Then they slaughtered the beast in the shallows
Its liquid steel body did not turn to fight them
Nor did it bite them with infinite teeth
It turned to make one more arc in the shadows
And its blood filled the waves on the beach
Come see the great white fish
The great white whale
With gills as big as a jail!
With a mouth full of teeth
It rose from the deep
The monster that swam in figure eights.
credits
from Cryptobiotic Dirtbags,
released October 9, 2023
Boris McCutcheon - vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin
Steve Mayone - baritone guitar, harmonica, bass, percussion, vocals
Mother Ditch (2001) When We Were Big (2003) Turbulent Amusement (live) (2004) Cactusman vs the Blue Demon (2006) Lost
Sessions and B-Sides (2006) Bad Road, Good People (2008) Wheel of Life (2010)Utrecht (live) (2011)Boris McCutcheon Sings the Songs of Townes Van Zandt (2012)Might Crash! (2013)I’m Here Let Me In (2017)• 2004 Boston Music Awards best male singer songwriter• 2004...more
A vibrant vision of "Central Americana" from the Costa Rica-based artist, blending heartland devotionals with playful Tropicália grooves. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 27, 2022
