May there be such a oneness between you that when one weeps, the other tastes salt. -M. Buxbaum-

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. -C. S. Lewis-

Here’s what you can do with AI. Starting with the following Urban legend text file as input, an AI was asked to write a song from it.

This was when the Navy had iron men and wooden ships, and their priorities straight.

LITTLE KNOWN NAVAL HISTORY…….…

The U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), as a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers!). However, let it be noted that according to her ship’s log, “On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum.” Her mission: “To destroy and harass English shipping.”

Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum. Then she headed for the Azores, arriving there 12 November. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and

64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine. On 18 November, she set sail for England. In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each. By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Her landing party captured a whisky distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home. The U.S.S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February, 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whisky, and 38,600 gallons of water.

GO NAVY!!!

This is the song that was written:

The Voyage of Old Ironsides
Little Known Naval History

Upon the sea, the Constitution sail’d
With Officers and men, four hundred strong,
And forty eight thousand gallons fresh draught,
To last them months while sailing far and long.

No need for distillers on this mighty ship
With powder black and rum in great supply,
Her mission clear: to battle English ships,
To bring their vessels down or make them cry.

When iron men aboard their wooden ships their spirits bold, they braved the ocean’s gale
Set sail with rum and powder at their hips. GO NAVY! Let their legacy prevail!!

From Boston’s port, she cut the waves with pride,
In July sev’nteen ninety eight, her year
With cannon shot and powder stack’d inside
And casks of rum that sailors held so dear.

Onward to Jamaica’s shores she flew
In October’s sun she took her gain
Eight hun’rd pounds of flour and rum anew,
With barrels filled she brav’d the salty main.

When iron men aboard their wooden ships their spirits bold, they braved the ocean’s gale
Set sail with rum and powder at their hips. GO NAVY! Let their legacy prevail!!

By January’s end no shot remained
Yet still she sought the Firth of Clyde, so bold
A Scottish raid her crew unrestrained
To steal the whiskey forty thousand told.

Back home to Boston harbor then she steered,
In February’s cold her sails were torn.
No shot, no rum, no food, nor powder cheer’d
But water still, enough for journeys worn.

So Old Ironside, w’stories yet untold,
Returned to port, Her thirst for glory quench’d
A ship of leg’nd tales of iron bold, her name
In history forever entrenched.

When iron men aboard their wooden ships their spirits bold, they braved the ocean’s gale
Set sail with rum and powder at their hips. GO NAVY! Let their legacy prevail!!

(You can download a PDF with the score here.)

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