Ahoy there - and welcome to Tom's home page.
Thank you for
visiting my home page. From here you will find various links
to my CDs, song lyrics, songbook, touring schedule,
and miscellaneous other trivia. If you would like to be
added to my mailing list, for my very occasional updates, or
if there is anything you would like to know that I have
omitted from this site, I am always very happy to chat via
tom@tomlewis.netMeanwhile, a video of my very latest song can be viewed by clicking on:
There is a complex back-story to this song, but basically, paying off on the downhaul means jumping ship before the voyage is complete. For the absconding sailor, this was usually a last resort, engendered by truly awfully conditions aboard, as he would receive no pay for the months already served. There were captains who actively connived at such an event for whilst a new hand had to be found, they only had to pay that replacement for whatever portion of the voyage remained.
Tom's double CD 'Demand Performance' -
featuring one 'live' CD with seven extended tracks (you KNOW
how he is prone to witter on) plus a second CD with eleven
studio-recorded tracks - is available as an actual compact
disc, and digtally. Downloads of all Tom's albums can be
purchased from Bandcamp, as can
the digital (PDF) copy of his song book Worth The Singin'.
Tom is renowned for composing 'The Last Shanty' (A Sailor Ain't A Sailor), ''Sailor's Prayer' (Send Down A Dove), 'Legend' (Marching Inland), plus many other contemporary songs of the sea that have become folk standards, sung by (to date) nearly fifty artists and groups around the world.
At the age of 83, Tom is still touring widely, with 2027 shaping up to be a very busy year - taking his brand of wry humour, his nautical knowledge, and his powerful voice - all of which he loves to share - to audiences everywhere.
Tom has developed several workshops over the years; his latest, which premiered on Maritime Folknet (follow this link to view it on you-tube) on Saturday March 20th 2021, is entitled ‘The Evolution of the Sea Shanty’ – and also featured the first public performance of A SHANTY FOR SINGING.
Other workshops Tom presents include 'CYRIL SAD T ALL BEFORE - But What Did He Mean?' This is an hour of reflections and explanations of the now arcane lyrics in Cyril Tawney's wonderful songs from a fellow diesel submariner. This complements his much acclaimed workshop on the songs of Stan Rogers, which Tom has presented at many festivals over the last five years.
When the opportunity arises, Tom also performs with five wonderful Polish musicians, QFTRY. Together they form POLES APART; combining innovative arrangements and harmonies into a very special show.
Please explore this website, check out Tom's touring schedule, reviews, songbook, CDs and POLES APART - and drop Tom a line at tom@tomlewis.net if you feel so inclined. You WILL receive an answer!
Tom is renowned for composing 'The Last Shanty' (A Sailor Ain't A Sailor), ''Sailor's Prayer' (Send Down A Dove), 'Legend' (Marching Inland), plus many other contemporary songs of the sea that have become folk standards, sung by (to date) nearly fifty artists and groups around the world.
At the age of 83, Tom is still touring widely, with 2027 shaping up to be a very busy year - taking his brand of wry humour, his nautical knowledge, and his powerful voice - all of which he loves to share - to audiences everywhere.
Tom has developed several workshops over the years; his latest, which premiered on Maritime Folknet (follow this link to view it on you-tube) on Saturday March 20th 2021, is entitled ‘The Evolution of the Sea Shanty’ – and also featured the first public performance of A SHANTY FOR SINGING.
Other workshops Tom presents include 'CYRIL SAD T ALL BEFORE - But What Did He Mean?' This is an hour of reflections and explanations of the now arcane lyrics in Cyril Tawney's wonderful songs from a fellow diesel submariner. This complements his much acclaimed workshop on the songs of Stan Rogers, which Tom has presented at many festivals over the last five years.
When the opportunity arises, Tom also performs with five wonderful Polish musicians, QFTRY. Together they form POLES APART; combining innovative arrangements and harmonies into a very special show.
Please explore this website, check out Tom's touring schedule, reviews, songbook, CDs and POLES APART - and drop Tom a line at tom@tomlewis.net if you feel so inclined. You WILL receive an answer!
