Short Story: A Most Curious Shanty

Short Story: A Most Curious Shanty

Oh!

The wind in me sail

‘Tis a ghastly great gale

(And the sea’s as big as a whale!)

But I’ll battle on through

The fearsome blue

(He’s a comin back for you!)

I was once a wayward fiery lad,

Scuffed shoes and buttons of brass,

I’d drink from a bottle

That shattered on the cobbles

Along with the hopes I had.

Oh!

(A lalalailee a thimble for thee

And a tankard full of sherry!)

I found some work shovelling dirt

Calloused hands and divots of grass,

But my mind roamed free

During the monotony

Dreaming of watery riches unearthed.

Oh!

(A lailaleela let’s raise a jar

To a blackened corsair’s heart!)

I sailed the sea from the age of twenty three,

Thrumming ropes against the mast,

I raided and wondered

And looted and plundered

T’was a pirates life for me!

Arrrgh!

The wind in me sail

‘Tis a ghastly great gale

(And the sea’s as big as a whale!)

But I’ll battle on through

The fearsome blue

(He’s a comin’ back for you!)

The years flew by in the wink of an eye,

Me youth a sorry tale long past,

And yet despite the riches

I’d acquired via hitches

I was glummer than a wet swabbie.

(A lalaleelai, he had tried

To drown his sorrow in gold,

But his greed had lied

And unto the heavens he cried)

“Twill be pointless when I’m old!”

OH!

I scuttled me ship and did in me hip

To a distant isle was I cast,

So I opened a tavern

Using the wealth I had…gathered

Me watery wings all but clipped

Oh!

(A lalalailee a thimble for thee

And a tankard full of sherry!)

One stormy dark night by flickering light

Your presence struck strong and fast,

Blazing long hair

Knocked me off my chair,

You were like nothing I’d seen in me life!

Oh!

(A lailaleela let’s raise a jar

To a captured corsair‘s heart!)

I knew right then with you I would spend

My days until the last,

When through the door

That you had entered before

Stolen were you by sea men!

Aaargh!

The wind in me sail

‘Tis a ghastly great gale

(And the sea’s as big as a whale!)

But I’ll battle on through

The fearsome blue

(He’s a comin’ back for you!)

Up I flew without much a do

Knowing right there my task,

I buckled on me blade

Charging after the naives

And gathered up me crew,

A lalaleelai “To the ship” I cried,

Together we ran brave and bold,

Relentless I now ride

Upon shifting tides

Seeking you to finally hold.

Oh!

The wind in me sail

‘Tis a ghastly great gale

(And the sea’s as big as a whale!)

But I’ll battle on through

The fearsome blue

(He’s a comin back for you!)

Oh!

Many seasons have past since I first glimpsed you lass,

Me whiskers and waste have filled,

But I burn still with the fire you gave me, lass

And for you a hundred men have I killed!

Aaargh!

ALL:

The wind in me sail

‘Tis a ghastly great gale

And the sea’s as big as a whale!

But I’ll battle on through

The fearsome blue,

I’m a comin’ back for you!