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Description
I wrote this as a teen in the 60s or 70s after seeing the movie Billy Budd. I was contemplating going to jail, Sweden or Canada if drafted. It is about insubordination, about right and might, about perseverence, about justice.
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Lyrics
The Good Ship England sails the seas
For many a year she's sailed the seas
She stops at every eastern port to take their gold
And at night when the crew of the good ship goes
Off with the women and off with their clothes
A single sailor stays behind and shed some tears
Oh the song on the seas grows stronger now
And seabirds surround
Every captain wants to know what drove his ship
underground
The captain sent the lad away and shackled him for many days
For no good seaman weeps in doubt about his role
And when the ship set sail once more to rape the farthest foreign shore
The lad said, Captain, turn around and head for home
The lad said Captain can't you see that what you take from each country
Ebbs your human dignity and leaves them cold
The captain ordered him to hang for treason to the royal gang
And the very last words to the captain spoke were
Curse your bones!
And when the sailor breathed no more
The fearless crewmen roared and roared
And in their joy they could not see
The wave come near
For many a year she's sailed the seas
She stops at every eastern port to take their gold
And at night when the crew of the good ship goes
Off with the women and off with their clothes
A single sailor stays behind and shed some tears
Oh the song on the seas grows stronger now
And seabirds surround
Every captain wants to know what drove his ship
underground
The captain sent the lad away and shackled him for many days
For no good seaman weeps in doubt about his role
And when the ship set sail once more to rape the farthest foreign shore
The lad said, Captain, turn around and head for home
The lad said Captain can't you see that what you take from each country
Ebbs your human dignity and leaves them cold
The captain ordered him to hang for treason to the royal gang
And the very last words to the captain spoke were
Curse your bones!
And when the sailor breathed no more
The fearless crewmen roared and roared
And in their joy they could not see
The wave come near
paularenson
I sang this as I was coming out of a bout with bleeding vocal chords, explaining the lack of power in the voice compared to earlier recordings. Happy to report I am almost back to normal. As with all my songs, everyone is welcome to modify, harmonize, orchestrate and share.