Pirates lyrics

"Who'll make his mark", the captain cried.

"To the devil drink a toast.

We'll glut the hold with cups of gold

And we'll feed the sea with ghosts

I see your hunger for a fortune

Could be better served beneath my flag

If you've the stomach for a broadside

Come aboard my pretty boys

I will take you and make you

Everything you've ever dreamed."

"Make fast the guns tonight we sail

When the high tide floods the bay,

Cut free the lines and square the yards

Get the black flag stowed away

The Turk, the Arab, the Spaniard

Will soon have pennies on their eyes

And any other laden fancy

We will take her by surprise

I will take you and make you

Everything you've ever dreamed."

Six days off the Cuban coast when a sail ahead the spied

"A galleon of the treasure fleet,' the mizzen lookout cried

"Closer to the wind my boys," the mad-eyed captain roared

"For every man that's alive tonight will be hauling gold aboard."

"Spare us," the galleon begged but mercy's face had fled

Blood ran from the sreaming souls the cutlass harvested

Driven to the quarter deck the last survivor fell

"She's ours my boys," the Captain grinned "and no one left to tell."

The Captain rose from a silk divan

With a pistol in his fist

And shot the lock from an iron box

And a blood red ruby kissed

"I give you jewellery of turquoise

A crucifix of solid gold

One hundred thousand silver pieces

It is just as I foretold

You... You see there before you everything

You've ever dreamed."

Anchored in an indigo moonlit bay

Gold-eyed roun fires the sea thieves lay

Morning... white shells and a pipe of clay

As the wind filled their footsteps

They were far... far... away.

"Our sails swell full as we brave all seas

On a westward wind to live as we please

With the wicked wild-eyed woman of Portobello town

Where we've been told that a purse of gold

Buys many man a crown

They will serve you and clothe you

Exchange your rags for the velvet coats of Kings."

"Who'll drink a toast with me

I give you Liberty

This town is ours... tonight."

"Landlord, wine make it the finest

Make it a cup for a seadog's thirst

Two long years of bones and beaches

Fever and leeches did their worst

So fill the night with paradise

Bring me peach and peacock till I burst

But first, I want a soft touch in the right place

I want to feel like a King tonight

Ten on the black to beat the Frenchman

Back you dogs give 'em room to turn

Now open wide sweet Heaven's gates

Tonight we're gonna see if Heaven burns

See how she burns... Oh she burns

I want an angel on a gold chain

And I'll ride her to the stars

It's the last time for a long long time

Come the daybreak, we embark..."

On the flood of the morning tide

Once more the ocean cried.

"This company will return one day

Though we feel your tears it's the price we pay

For there's prizes to be taken and glory to be found

Cut free the chains make fast your souls

We are Eldorado bound...

I will take you always forever together

Until hell call our names..."

"Who'll drink a toast with me

To the devil and the deep blue sea

Gold drives a man... to dream!"

• Artist:Emerson, Lake & Palmer
• Album:Works Volume 1 (1977)