A Pirates Life

We set out from Port Royal in pursuit of our prize,
although the sayer told us it wasn't at all wise.
We craved the sloop called "Four Queens"
sailing out of New Orleans
But tragically, we were not told,
she carried woe down in her hold.
We chased her here, we chased her there,
we chased her up and down,
we pursued her round the horn so close
we sailed across some ground.
We got lost in the pack ice of the seas of down below.
The captain said "We have her now!" but all I saw was snow.
Then came the darkness and the wind began the whine
that sounded like a banshee scream to these poor ears of mine.
The winds lashed and the waves crashed, all night we weathered the storm.
We wrapped our backs with burlap sacks and lit a candle to get warm.
We strove oh so mightily to win the treasure The Queens had,
but had we returned to Port Royal then, we would have been more glad.
I was standing up on the deck, the ship's wheel in my hands I held.
I heard the call from high aloft, "Sail ho!" the lookout yelled.
It was The Queens, we soon found out, and we got ready for the fight,
But just then came The Mary Lee, a truly fearsome sight.
Before we could change our course she met us in the gloom,
and, it soon became apparent that below us lay our tomb.
She opened up with cannon and her first shot snapped our mast,
we rally'd up and rolled 'em out, but I knew we wouldn't last.
We were sure outgunned that night, and we were outsailed,
the captain called out orders as the wounded fell and wailed.
The last thing I remember was a flash and booming noise,
and I got tossed into the brine with several other boys.
I came to upon the deck of the British man-o-war,
I saw the noose a swayin' loose and I knew who it was for.
They asked me if I had last words, and I said with a wink to the crowd:
"Yes, I have some words to say, if it is allowed.
I am just a simple man, yearning to live free
so YO HO, YO HO, A PIRATE'S LIFE FOR ME!!!"