Album: Works, Volume 1 (1977)
Play Video
  • "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!" Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

  • Josh from Uka pirate captain and his crew setting out on a journey in search of treasure and adventure. The captain calls out to those who hunger for a fortune and invites them to join his crew, promising to make them everything they've ever dreamed. The crew sets sail, eager to take on the world and to amass a wealth of riches.

    As they sail along the Cuban coast, the crew spies a galleon of the treasure fleet and the captain orders his men to close in for the attack. Despite the galleon's pleas for mercy, the pirate crew is relentless, cutting down all who stand in their way and hauling the treasure aboard.

    The captain is depicted as a mad-eyed, greedy man who is driven by his desire for wealth and power. He rises from his divan with a pistol in hand, shooting the lock from an iron box to retrieve a blood red ruby. He also gifts his crew with turquoise jewelry and a solid gold crucifix, making good on his promise to make them everything they've ever dreamed.

    As the pirates anchor in a bay, they enjoy a night of revelry and drink a toast to the devil, to freedom, and to the deep blue sea. They are determined to live their lives as they please, and to amass as much wealth as possible. The pirate crew is described as wild-eyed and wicked, seeking to take what they want from the world without regard for anyone else.

    The lyrics suggest that the pirate crew is aware of the dangers and risks involved in their line of work, but that they are driven by their desire for adventure and the thrill of the chase. Despite the sadness and tears of those they leave behind, they are bound for Eldorado, determined to take all the riches the world has to offer.
  • Anthony Selby from HampshireAs good as this form of music could possibly be. Greg Lake, such an underrated vocalist.
  • Eugene from London Fantastic song from brilliant artists
  • Brian from Desmoines, IaWhen I first heard this on a progressive FM station, I thought it was Aaron Copland and friends agreed with me. I really like this piece. It really weaves a story. The video is almost "why bother?". Pretty bad, but maybe could be done with clips from the "Pirates of the Caribean" movies. Great song!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song Spoofs

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song SpoofsSong Writing

When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.