Old Salt
Written by SheepDog: Trevor & Chad Pentecost, 2020
Act 1 - Songs 1 thru 4
In the late Age of Sail when freebooting sailors criss-crossed the northeast coastline of “The Colonies,” there arose a story that resonated deep within the dispirited early settlers. In the port taverns hearsay was shared about a young boy, James, who is orphaned and left to find a livelihood in the shipyards of the colony bay.
With nothing but his father’s harmonica in his pocket he peddles whatever he can to make ends meet. However, he is seen as merely a scoundrel and to blame for any mischief in the area. He longs to be an honorable navy captain like those in the stories he heard as a child, but he is losing hope in that vision for his future. Desperately searching for any direction and sense of brotherhood he is soon found and grafted into the crew of a rebellious party known as "The Sea Dogs". They disguise themselves as mercenaries for hire under their own rebel flag, of which no one knows their allegiance. However, by reputation they are known as lawless adventurers, pirating the trade lines to the colony ports. This party brings the young boy into their ranks, teaching him the ropes and how to swindle at sea and in port. In this setting James finds camaraderie and brotherhood as well as a reputation for his successful positioning. However, his success draws him closer to discontent as he is persistently haunted by a deluge of dreams. Dreams of true sonship and honor that he may never know.
Act 2 - Songs 5 & 6
Years later a reputable and stalwart naval warship captain, reverently referred to as "Old Salt," overhears two sailors at a tavern sharing aggrandized stories about this young boy and his prodigal plunders. Old Salt is familiar with the charter lines and passages the rebel cutter, derisively named The Beast, patrols while hiding in the low lying fog of the morning and evening. He is determined to find this ship and salvage James from the rebellious destiny that the sea and The Sea Dogs have for him. Old Salt is burned up with zeal to find James and call on him to reconsider his course before it's too late. For, he too knows what it means to be orphaned and cast away. Old Salt develops a secret mission with his Lieutenants to charter his ship, endearingly nick-named “The Cavet Frater” (Blood-Brother), to pursue The Beast. In early winter The Cavet Frater begins weaving through The Beast’s patrol lines in order to give chase from a distance.
On Christmas Eve The Beast is caught in a storm and is doomed to wreck on the jagged coastal rocks just before Old Salt spots the ship. Seeing their distress he orders that the early warning maritime militia, and the lighthouse guarding the bluffs of Keeper's Bay keep their fires lit for an additional three hours through the night while he moves towards the rebel ship. Balancing the pursuit with tact strains his crew as they risk The Beast firing on The Cavet Frater, which would ultimately end in the swift death of the rebel party. Old Salt skillfully positions his ship to rescue the crew as he stands down waiting for The Beast to hoist their white flag signaling their will to be rescued from the frigid sea.
Meanwhile the signal fires and lighthouse assist the rebel ship in staying on safe bearing through the stormy night as Old Salt follows on. As both ships draw ever closer to the dangers of the bluffs, neither crew of each of the ships would ever expect what happens next. This is the story of the boy and that Captain.
Act 3 - Songs 7 & 8
The story’s conclusion is discovered in the last two songs of the album
