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X Marks the Spot

by The Jolly Rogers

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1.
I Wanna Be 03:03
I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be a Pirate too. I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be a Pirate too. Lived on the land lived by the shore dad stuck around till he got bored Looked to the sky, looked to the sea, shouted to the waves, now can't you see I’m just a lad, I’m all alone my mother’s gone, and I’ve got no home I’ll grab my gear and head to town so the whole damn wharf can hear my sound I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be a Pirate too. Looked about for a seaside bar and didn’t have to look to far Went right in and the press gang grinned, so I stepped right up and said count me in The foreman said well bless my soul, I’ve never seen one so bold Said have a drink and grab your gear we sail with the tide so hit the pier I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be a Pirate too. Now we saw her clear all fat and slow, laden full and sitting low With a Spanish flag her tale was told, she’s bound for home with western gold We’ll take her down and strip her bones, we’ll send her crew to Davey Jones So man your guns boys man them well and on my mark we’ll unleash hell I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be a Pirate too. We took her hard we took her gold, we used her prize to fill our hold We turned south to Montigo Bay, with a final shot we were on our way We laughed and sang and broke rum out, but we froze with the lookout’s shout Two Spanish ships both men-of-war, lying in wait between us and shore I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be a Pirate too. Their cannons blazed and the mast was gone, we knew it would not be long They stormed the ship and sabers flew, but we rallied back cause we all knew The fight went on though we were lost, we got our gold but at what cost I saw him there, I pulled my blade the Spaniard smiled and so I said I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be a Pirate too. I saw the thrust and felt the pain, I saw my life begin to wan With a final blow I struck his head, but I knew that soon we’d both be dead We lay there upon the deck as I thought about my own doomed trek I heard a voice from next to me sing in Spanish now can’t you see that I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be a Pirate too. You listen hard, you listen well there are so many tales to tell Beyond the sea, beyond the waves, you’ll hear them all beyond the graves sing I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be a Pirate too. I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be I wanna be, I wanna be a Pirate too.
2.
Hiding in the jungle in the dregs of night. Steel blades glinting in the pre-dawn light. Citizens all lying innocent in bed, With all the garrison guards lying dead. The signals given that all is clear. Our ships come round full of bold buccaneers. We fire a volley to the heart of the town, We’ll own Panama before the sun goes down. When word went up we answered the call Heartless bastards one and all There is no safe place in the lands of Spain We’ll take the ships and we’ll own the main. We are the ones that they fear the most The Brotherhood, Brotherhood, Brotherhood of the Coast. Flintlocks loaded, daggers in our teeth Blood glistens bright red on the dirty street. To fire and death the whole town awoke, Ears ringing from the blasts, eyes burn with smoke We stormed into the town like God’s own wrath And rounded up those people for a fine bloodbath Then in the church we locked one and all And turned to the town to make a great haul. [CHORUS] We sacked that town for thirty-six days. When the Brotherhood visits, everyone pays. We took all their gold and their gems and their cash And tortured the locals for their pers’nal stash. As we left that town ‘twas a beautiful sight: Hundreds of dead with barely a fight. To make sure the Spanish remembered our name We lit up that church and we left as we came. [CHORUS] As we left the harbor and sailed for the blue, A great southbound galleon came into our view That old Spanish flag made our pirate blood boil And we swore they never would reach Spanish soil. Their treasure was tempting, but we didn’t try, We just fired our guns and laughed as they died. Our thirty-two ships they could carry no more, We buggered those Spaniards on sea and on shore. [CHORUS
3.
Sign aboard now if you’ve got the heart But know what you’re in for before we start We’re going for breadfruit and tropical spice But how we get there should make you think twice You’ll know the terrors you hoped were just tales Going round the Horn You’ll live on rancid meat and bread that’s gone stale Going round the Horn/Going round the Horn When we arrive you will be shocked to see Lovely young native girls and they are free The men they are friendly, the weather is warm To get there the captain’s going South round the Horn. The wind is so fierce it could sure shred the sail Going round the Horn The true hellish home of Ahab’s white whale Going round the Horn/Going round the Horn You’ll spend your days lounging under a palm Watching the sea and the sea’s always calm But before that you will curse being born ‘Cause to get there we’re all going south round the Horn. You’re head will bleed from the barrage of hail Going round the Horn. That frozen wasteland is worse than a jail Going round the Horn/Going round the Horn The beach, the food, and the girls are so nice There’s a reason they all call it Cook’s Paradise So sign up now for the islands we’re sworn If we survive going south round the Horn You’ll meet the mother of all living Gales Going round the horn So cold it will freeze your hand to the rail Going round the Horn/Going round the Horn They’ll give us tattoos to help celebrate With Rum and with Grog we will all toast our fate So sign up boys, but still I must warn Dangers abound going south round the horn. The jagged ice the mists they do veil Going Round the horn But if you’ve got the heart we cannot fail Going round the Horn/Going round the Horn Going round the Horn/Going round the Horn
4.
Lift your glasses high, me friends, and join us in our song We will toast to all we know, so sing, yes, sing along We will drink to those we miss and those we don’t as well For toasting here is the excuse for us to drink like hell! We'll sing for all those who have gone, that we'll miss every day We'll sing to those that made us glad they finally went away To the former we will drink to all that might have been To the latter we’ll drink more in case they come back again [CHORUS] We’ll sing for the ladies whose beauty went to our heads And we’ll sing for the ladies who went slyly to our beds We’ll drink to the ladies, the shy ones and the bold For both were much more wild in the stories that we told [CHORUS] And this verse is for the man we know as Charley Mopps Who had the brilliant idea of brewing up some hops Then he threw some barley and some malt into that brew It may not be as fine as wine, but it will surely do [CHORUS] Raise a glass unto our friends, our friends both near and far Who’ve seen us laugh and seen us cry and never left the bar To friends who’ll let you flounder but never let you sink Friends who’ll always be there if you’re paying for the drinks [CHORUS] Here is one just for our wives so lovely and so sweet Who, when we return won’t throw us out into the street It’s true that they will scream and nag and sometimes even curse Even so, we all still know alone would be far worse [CHORUS] This one is our final toast, and it’s to all of you For we know you’ll love the show if you’ve been drinking too! So raise your glasses up dear friends, bottoms to the sky The jokes will all get funnier if you give it a try [CHORUS] x2
5.
Numbers 04:21
Sixty set out from Cambridge all good men and true On a gunship bound for glory with a young and wild crew We’d charge in, make our stand, and we’d see victory But when we’d won our first battle there were only fifty-three. More died from infection despite the surgeon’s tricks That brought our bold and fearless crew down to forty-six We then sailed away thinking we had seen the worst But we steered her back around when we heard a cannon’s burst. Second fight that day and our luck was fading fast Though we stayed afloat we’d lost most of our main mast We were now adrift and very glad to be alive Though I must admit our crew was now down to thirty-five. Most of the food was ruined from the salt sea down below But we didn’t fear ‘til the water started running low With our bold and hardy crew just a fortnight out to sea The cruel sea had taken twelve and we were twenty-three. Four more days had passed when we caught site of a gale We were sucking rain from the rags that used to be our sail Another week adrift was the worst sight ever seen Our beleaguered crew was now down to just seventeen. The first mate started screaming and set the deck alight We tried to restrain him but he had a madman’s fight When we stopped him he’d just hum “It’ll all be fine” But by then our battered crew was no more than nine. From nine we went to seven, from seven down to three The cabin boy, the carpenter and the boson, that was me We all sat there on the deck, though none of us could speak We should be keeping watch but we were all too weak The cabin boy was curled up in a corner all alone The carpenter was muttering and gnawing on a bone I just kept on laughing, cause I knew I’d lost my grip As we were taken one by one to the rescue ship Never go to sea, me boys, never leave the land For once you’re out to sea it doesn’t matter what you planned Your life lies in the mercy of the sea heartless and cruel So you’ll stay ashore unless you truly are a fool. Though three survived that awful trip I’m the last one of my crew The others locked in their own minds, their voyage never through So listen to me lads before you take your hellish trip Man belongs upon the ground, not on some Goddamn ship.
6.
That Liverpool ship, that wonderful ship, now that’s the ship for me She’s called the Queen Fairy and she’s quite a sight to see The ship’s all manned by women, not a single bloke in sight Except for me, the cabin boy, who tucks them in at night. Now on that ship our boatswain’s name was “Foghorn” Fanny Pearl Around the world you’ll not find such a playful, willing girl But every time we’d go below she’d let forth such a howl The Cap’n would yell, “There she blows! There’s whales off the bow”! [CHORUS] The gunner’s name was Charlotte Payne and she was full of spite She kept a loaded blunderbuss in bed with her at night And so she caught me as I climbed into her tiny bed “My gun is cocked,” She grinned and said, “But I’ll cock yours instead”! [CHORUS] “Sunlight” Sally, our First Mate, a natural blonde is she She suns in the nude upon the deck for all the crew to see I rub her skin with slippery oils from her feet up to her neck And when we make love I slip right off and slide across the deck [CHORUS] Then there’s our cook, and I might add, a truly filling dish. She goes with wine, she goes with ale, she goes with fowl or fish. When I’m hungry for a snack I slip right down below And have myself a little bite of luscious Lucy Blow. [CHORUS] Our Captain, Young Colleen McBust, now she was best of all She has two certain features just as large as cannonballs Like two moons they’re big and round and alabaster white And like all heavenly bodies, they’re sure to come out tonight! [CHORUS] [CHORUS]
7.
We left one morning from Bristol To the Indies we’d set sail Captain Thompson worried Of many a pirate and a gale The crew said “Dear Captain don’t worry ‘bout us now For we have calm seas and dolphins at the bow.” “Don’t worry ‘bout us now, don’t worry ‘bout us now,” The crew said “Dear Captain don’t worry ‘bout us now.” Captain Thompson stood on the foredeck Pressed his spyglass to his eye Looking to the horizon When a pirate ship he spied Then he wheeled and shouted, “She’s bearing on us fast, Man your guns me lads this will surely be our last!” “She’s bearing on us fast, she’s bearing on us fast,” Then he wheeled and shouted, “She’s bearing on us fast.” It was then she came upon us Bringing Hell with her that day Captain Thompson he lay bleeding These words to us he did say “God damn you, you bastards, don’t let them take my ship, For I feel the Devil’s claw and my life about to slip.” “Don’t let them take my ship, don’t let them take my ship, God damn you, you bastards, don’t let them take my ship.” We fired a volley back at them Our aim it did not stray With that one hard volley We’d surely won the day We’d sent them down to Hell boys, down to Davey Jones Down to the depths where the sharks will have their bones Down to Davey Jones, down to Davey Jones, We’d sent them down to Hell boys, down to Davey Jones. The Captain lay on the foredeck His arms tied to his sides Off the starboard went his body His soul lost in the tide The crew said “Dear Captain, don’t worry ‘bout us now For we have calm seas and dolphins at the bow.” “Don’t worry ‘bout us now, don’t worry ‘bout us now,” The crew said “Dear Captain, don’t worry ‘bout us now.” “Don’t worry ‘bout us now, don’t worry ‘bout us now,” The crew said “Dear Captain, don’t worry ‘bout us now.”
8.
Rally 'round the drum, boys, rally 'round the drum We’ll need all your powder, we’ll need all your guns Rally ‘round the drum, boys, rally round the drum We’ll need all your courage, we’ll need all your sons Hear the drummer’s anthem call across the land Itgrows ever stronger through every boy and man Kiss your wife and children, that’s what we’re fighting for Then come and join the rest as we go marching off to war! Now the time has come, men, now the time is near No time for hesitation, no time for showing fear We have but two thousand, we’ll need a thousand more When we have three thousand we’ll all march off to war. [CHORUS] Hear the drumbeat growing as it echoes in your chest As we all march forward feel pity for the rest Like the wives and children they'll be safe and sound But they’ll never know the glory of a hero’s renown. [CHORUS] We’ll fight them in the valley, we’ll fight them on the plains We’ll heed the drummer’s call till the last of them are slain We’ll fight them in the mountains, we’ll fight them on the sea We will not stop fighting till death or victory [CHORUS] Rally 'round the drum, boys, rally 'round the drum We’ll need all your powder, we’ll need all your guns Rally ‘round the drum, boys, rally round the drum We’ll need all your courage, we’ll need all your sons
9.
Polska 03:10
I’ve walked the halls of monarchs, and I have seen their tombs I’ve delved into mines of salt, and stood in their carven rooms, I’ve wandered the streets of cities whose language I did not know, I’ve seen medieval cathedrals, and my friends in falling snow. Flying over the ocean, hanging over the sea Ten years before could I have dreamed this would be me? For a decade I’d been singing of adventure far and wide Now the song I sing tells of adventure that was mine And I have seen the seat of a past tyranny’s might, I have felt it’s echoes though it’s been years since it’s flight, I’ve seen a club whose garish walls contrast with gray concrete, And I shared a table with a woman I didn’t care to meet. [CHORUS] I have walked a city square with streets cobbled and wide, And I have seen a young gypsy boy be harshly denied, I’ve eaten salted fish and signed a wall to appease, And I can finally say I’ve tried a Royale with Cheese. [CHORUS] I’ve gone without sleep so that I could see it all I’ve gone from crowded pubs to ancient city walls I’ve sung my songs from a stage in this foreign land, And heard them sung back in words I didn’t understand [CHORUS] [CHORUS (POLISH)]
10.
11.
The Warning 04:54
It was just another day of drink in this salty, sea-side bar The rafters creaked like broken masts that had seen their final gale Old sailors at their drinks hung like torn rigging from the spar Where once saltwater ran their veins, now there’s naught but rum and ale. And in a darkened corner lit by oily candle light The Young Man sat with the Last Pirate around their mugs of swill The Pirate smiled his toothless grin, a drunken haggard sight “You don’t want to be a pirate, lad, your soul can’t pay the bill.” “You’ll wash the decks with your blood, me boy, Davey Jones will know your name You’ll freeze, you’ll starve, you’ll burn with thirst, you’ll have no home or love Only fight and flight will be your life, it’s a pointless, dirty game If the gold you seek don’t drag you down, you’ll hang from up above. Pressed into service by the Crown, ‘neath the lash I earned my wage We tasted the Captain’s cruelty, his life I vowed to claim I slipped my dagger ‘tween his ribs and the crew unleashed their rage I raised the flag, black as night, and all men feared my name. [CHORUS] I slaughtered my way across the seas, I laughed in the face of God Innocent blood was the Devil’s due, a bargain made for greed. And in the holds of our taken ships, I stood and stared in awe, As I cracked their keels in my hands, it was gold that they would bleed. [CHORUS] I never knew the softened touch of a woman who wanted me Her eyes would never beckon, her voice would never console I’d roll into port and with my coin I’d silence any plea I took the women I wanted, and if they wouldn’t sell, I stole.” [CHORUS] The Pirate’s smile widened as a gale knocked on the door As the wind blew in, the setting sun it gave a blood-red tide In the arms of the wind the Young Man stood and was drawn across the floor And down to the sea he danced, with adventure in his mind The wind swirled ‘round the room, and as it blew back out to sea The Old Man’s eyes held the flame as the candle light went dark Now there’s one to carry on His vile and hateful deeds Old Scratch just laughed as he faded away, for another bore his mark. “You’ll wash the decks with your blood, me boy, and I will know your name You’ll freeze, you’ll starve, you’ll burn in Hell, you’ll have no home or love Only fight and flight will be your life, it’s a pointless sinner’s game And I’ll be there to tie the noose when you hang from up above.”
12.
Misty Brown 01:27
Let me tell you ‘bout Misty Brown Hey ho, heave her around! She was a whore of high renown Way hey heave her around boys Man your line boys and heave her around! She was fat and she weren’t pretty [CHORUS 1] She’d do it all for less than fitty [CHORUS 2] In Portsmouth town she staked her claim [CHORUS 1] Sailors a smilin’ was her game [CHORUS 2] In blew Jack with the Seven Year Itch [CHORUS 1] He’s looking for Misty says, “Where’s that…” [CHORUS 2] Jack found Misty down at the pier [CHORUS 1] He threw her a thousand with a leer [CHORUS 2] Now Jack’s dead at Misty’s place [CHORUS 1] Least he died with a smile on his face [CHORUS 2] Now that’s the story of Misty Brown [CHORUS 1] She was a whore of high renown [CHORUS 2] [CHORUS 2]
13.
Thirty Men 02:42
Thirty men were killed here And thirty widows made This town’s only felt fear Since the first stones were laid Thirty men stood their ground For son, daughter and wife Facing death they were bound To save their love, their life Thirty men stared ahead And saw their fate advance Though their hearts were filled with dread They kept their rigid stance Thirty men cut and killed Though their cause was lost On the earth their blood was spilled Their courage had this cost Thirty widows in grief To every hearth were bent Flame would be their relief Since all their hope was spent Thirty widows took away From the fire a burning brand They set torch to wood and hay Their homes burned by their hand The Enemy stood and gazed And saw their plunder burn Then they all turned away And never did return Freedom won, the cost was dear The sacrifice was paid Thirty men were killed here And thirty widows made Thirty men were killed here And thirty widows made This town’s only felt fear Since the first stones were laid
14.
A schooner sat at bay while the crew all ran amok The men they gathered on the pier to see if they were stuck They shouted to the ship “Why are you still here in dock?” ‘Cuz the Captain got his knackers caught in the mainsheet block. I’ve seen old women blush from the tales that sailors told Of bawdy, ribald adventures some new ones and some old Scandalous journeys that they’ve taken some long and some short But the worst one that I heard of was a ship stuck in port The first mate was in charge of making the ship go But the matey’s got a cask of rum and his whore below And the boson was belting out a crass and crude old song It’s about a cuckoo’s nest but he got the words all wrong [CHORUS] The cabin boy laughed and said it’s time now for some fun And he lights off the powder in the foremast gun The shot it caused a scream below from the first mate’s whore Who up and shouted “Chuck it! I’m going off ashore.” [CHORUS] Then the mate came up on deck and said, “We all should go, I know a place where girls are cheap and the rum it freely flows” The crew all asked, “Should we invite the captain, to be nice” “Hell no! He’ll stay below with his knackers on some ice!” [CHORUS]
15.
Zombies out of the earth, Vampires out of the night Ghosts comin’ through walls, Killer slash with a knife Séance candles go out, the Ouija Board’s a flake There’s no Holy Water, the Exorcist is late… WANTED: Horror Movie Hero, make Evil pay! You gotta work nights and a few holidays Weapons not provided, you start at the full moon, Experience preferred, the sequel’s coming soon! Killer’s in the house, and the light switch doesn’t work You found your friends all dead, the Slasher goes berserk If you passed the front door to get away upstairs Then the Hero is the answer to all your prayers [CHORUS] Play with a puzzle box or meet a rabid dog If you’re trapped in the closet or caught out in the Fog The Hero always knows that Horror Movie Law, When the going gets tough, the tough get a chainsaw! [CHORUS] A hockey mask, a Shatner mask, head full of pins Razor claws on a glove or a leathery grin With Carpenter, Raimi, Craven and Barker too, Our Hero’s sure got one helluva job to do! [CHORUS] [CHORUS]
16.
On the last watch far out on the sea The days work but a bad memory My mind wanders to you and to home Oh my darling my lover my own All Alone on the watch wheel in hand My tear filled eyes search for land Thoughts of you pierce my heart like a knife Oh my darling my lover my wife On the last watch the pain fades away Of the blisters and bruises of the day With the moon your visage does rise Like the Phoenix setting fire to the skies In the day hard at work no time to think Knee deep in the blood sweat and stink With the crack of the lash swift and true All hope dies of returning to you But on the last watch my hope is reborn Though in the day like my back it is torn The night sky will mend it every time In the darkness you envelope my mind I will do what I can to stay alive With your memory I know I will survive Never again to sea when I’m home Oh my darling my lover my own On the last watch far out on the sea The days work but a bad memory My mind wanders to you and to home Oh my darling my lover my own All alone on the watch wheel in hand My tear-filled eyes search for land Thoughts of you pierce my heart like a knife Oh my darling my lover my wife
17.
The ship may be old and the deck may be warped But we know that the riggin’ is true Heave her up me boys, ugh!, Heave ‘em all away! She may not look like much from the shore But she’s got one helluva crew Heave away me boys haul away, we’ll soon be bound for home! We’ll set the sails and pray for wind And hope the seas are clear [CHORUS 1] We’ll skip up the riggin’ and dance on the main And none of the crew will show fear [CHORUS 2] So come now lads don’t be afraid It’s time you left the land [CHORUS 1] You may leave your home no more than a boy But it’s sure that you’ll come home a man [CHORUS 2] We’ll point her nose toward the southern sky And head straight towards the horn [CHORUS 1] When we return we’ll have gold to spare Just as sure as you’re born [CHORUS 2] We’ll fill her hold with spices and rum And every man gets his share [CHORUS 1] She may be no more than a rickety ship But at least her captain is fair [CHORUS 2] We’ll come home proud we’ll come home rich We’ll be met by our girlfriends and wives [CHORUS 1] But we pray to God that the two never meet Or we’re at sea for the rest of our lives [CHORUS 2]
18.

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released September 1, 2003

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The Jolly Rogers Kansas City, Missouri

Pirates before pirates were cool. The Jolly Rogers were born as the Earth still cooled, waaaay back in 1991. Bringing maritime music, sea shanties, drinking and bawdy songs to audiences before pirates were all the rage, they've been a main stage act at venues across America and Europe. ... more

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