What historical event (if any) inspired the lyrics to the Blues Image’s classic hit “Ride Captain Ride”…
The lyrics are seemingly refer to some pretty specific event:
The full lyrics can be found here : http://gunther.simplenet.com/v/data/ridecapt.htm
I searched on google and the forums and I didn’t find anything that refered to exactly 73 men sailing out of San Francisco. What the hell were they talking about?
thanks
Good question. Believe it or not, apparently it’s about a particular Scientology (L. Ron Hubbard) cruise.
A US ‘electronic surveillance’ ship captured by North Korea. The crew was held by them commie rats for quite a while.
In the 1970’s, a UHF TV station in Milwalkee, Wisconsin rebroadcast the old 1940’s Republic serial Tha Adventures of Captain America.
For some strange reason, they used this song to advertise it.
Ah, memories.
I think Mr. Duality has it … the song is about the capture of the US “research vessel” (spy ship = mystery ship) captured by North Korea back in 1968.
Altho’, according to a google-found site , it was 83 men (not 73 as in song),
they radio’d for help,* “and no one came at all.”*
Perhaps * ‘Cause they were too busy watchin’
Those old raindrops fall.
As a storm was blowin’
Out on the peaceful sea,* - Pacific Ocean
I think there was a storm where the flat-top that was to provide air cover was sailing.
I also remember that in a N.Korea photo of the crew (or officers) to prove they were still alive, the men used sign language to spell out something. Apparently the NK were unaware of this until Time Magazine helpfully pointed it out. Led to worse treatment for the captives.
Hadn’t heard the Scientology angle before, any lyric ties?
I remember hearing that it was a reference to the Pueblo incident, also, some 20 years ago. However, I don’t know that it is really true. It could just have been coincidental, and the band members said, “Yeah, that’s it!”
BTW, snopes has some info on the supposed “sign language.”