This great pop song was written by Woody Guthrie in 1939. Billy Bragg and Wilco recorded their version of the song on the album Mermaid Avenue, Volume II (#88) in 2000. The album contained lyrics by Guthrie and music by Bragg and Wilco. On this song, the music was by Jay Bennett and Jeff Tweedy from Wilco.
I heard this song many times on an alternative station in Nashville…Lightning 100 in the early 2000s. This project was conceived by Guthrie’s daughter, Nora Guthrie and Mermaid Avenue (#90) came out in 1996. It has everything I like in a song. Catchy chorus and jangly guitars.
Secret of the Sea
Who can guess the secret of the sea?
Who can guess the secret of the sea?
If you can guess the secret of my love for you
Then we both could know the secret of the sea
Tell me could you ever tell the secret of the sea?
These high rolling waves along the shore
The footprints of the lovers that come here to love
By the tides washed away forever more
Who can guess the secret of the sea?
Who can guess the secret of the sea?
If you can guess the secret of my love for you
Then we both could know the secret of the sea
You claim to know the secret of a kiss and a hug
The secret of the grass and of the trees
If you can tell the secret of a warm friend’s hand
Then we all would feel the secrets of the sea
Who can guess the secret of the sea?
Who can guess the secret of the sea?
If you can guess the secret of my love for you
Then we both could know the secret of the sea
We both could know the secret of the sea
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You know….I had the first one but have never heard anything from this second one. This sounds great. Thanks Did you see that documentary about the making of the first one?
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No I didn’t… I didn’t know there was one… I want to see it now. It’s very interesting they did this. You would have thought Dylan would have been doing this.
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I know he was a huge fan. I remember the doco being good, see if you can find it
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I will start my search…
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I wonder if someone has put it up on YouTube… I was looking for that big star doco today and found the full movie on YouTube
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I just searched youtube for the doc…I didnt’ see it but I’m searching some more. It’s called “man in the sand” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_styhlqrkyY
This is a 10 minute clip
I think you will like the Big Star doc
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The two Mermaid Avenue albums are great. Love this song. A great project!
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Good song and record. Sounds very in line with early Wilco (can’t really hear Billy Bragg’s influence in it). I need to try to check those records out, Ilike Wilco and find them one of the more under-rated American bands of the last couple of decades
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JermyJames said there was a documentary about it…I’m going to try to hunt it down.
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Never heard of them. Catchy tune. Lots of layers like The Eagles. I think I heard three guitars, a Sitar, a banjo & a piano. Has a ’60s’ feel to it.
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It does…that is the reason I liked it right away. Interesting project using Woody’s lyrics.
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Great choice
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From the first listen I liked it. Interesting project they did.
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I like the first volume more, but mainly because I think the Billy Bragg songs aren’t so strong on the second.
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I would like to see the documentary on it. It’s been a while since I listened to the whole album.
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not crazy about the song, but i like the concept
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I liked it because it has a Beatleish kinda of sound… but yea it is interesting they are getting Woody’s lyrics and doing that. Nice Project.
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You could have gotten into the Song Lyric Sunday challenge last week with this song.
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I remember reading about the Ocean by Led Zeppelin and I just went back and noticed that! Sometimes I’m slow.
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