I spent the past several days at a conference in La Jolla. During breaks I would walk down to the water to watch the surf and the seals (more on them later). With my family at home, it made me think of Billie Holiday's "I Cover the Waterfront." Written by Edward Heyman (lyrics) and Johnny Green (music), it's one of her many great songs. Here's how it begins:

Away from the city that hurts and knocks,
I'm standing alone by the desolate docks
in the still and the chill of the night
I see the horizon the great unknown
my heart has an ache
it's as heavy as stone
with the dawn coming on, make it last

I cover the waterfront
I'm watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

I cover the waterfront
In search of my love
An I'm covered
By a starlit sky above

The full lyrics are here, and here is a Louis Armstrong version of the song.