Get all 12 The Jolly Rogers releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of The Smoker Song, A Night At The Admiral Benbow Inn, Shanty Time, Score, XXV, Pirates Evermore, Beg, Borrow and Steal, Loose Cannons, and 4 more.
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. |
Brotherhood of the Coast
04:29
|
|||
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. |
South 'Round the Horn
03:46
|
|||
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
03:51
|
|||
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. |
The Queen Fairy
03:17
|
|||
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. |
Captain Thompson
04:05
|
|||
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
02:35
|
|||
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. |
One For The Road
04:45
|
|||
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. |
Ship Stuck in Port
02:27
|
|||
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. |
Horror Movie Hero
03:05
|
|||
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. |
The Last Watch
04:41
|
|||
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. |
Heave 'em All Away
01:44
|
|||
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. |
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
Streaming and Download help
If you like The Jolly Rogers, you may also like:
Bandcamp Daily your guide to the world of Bandcamp