[Intro – Tinwhistle + Flamenco Guitar + Percussion] [Lead: Tinwhistle solo, mournful, airy] [Backing: Flamenco guitar flourishes, Caribbean hand percussion, tambourine rolls] [Fiddle: Sustained drone underlay] [Verse 1 – Mandolin + Fiddle + Lead Vocals] I took the King’s command, from Bristol town (Heave her high!) A letter signed to guard His Majesty’s crown (We sail, we fight, we die!) We sailed for gold where warm winds blow (Aye, warm winds blow!) But the tide soon turned, and the crown did not know (And the crown did not know!) [Pre-Chorus 1 – Bodhrán + Percussion + Lead Vocals] The rum runs red, the cannons crack the night (The night, the night!) And in the smoke I lost the line of right (Lost the line of right!) [Chorus 1 – Full Ensemble] Heave ho, the Crown’s black flag we fly! (Black flag we fly!) Once sworn to serve, now sworn to never die (To never die!) The King’s own mark still stains my hand with pride (With pride, with pride!) Yet I raid the seas with the devil at my side (The devil at my side!) [Verse 2 – Flamenco Guitar + Fiddle + Lead Vocals] A Spanish port, we plundered on the quay (Heave her round!) But kept our pledge to England, truthfully (The King, the Crown!) A pirate’s heart, a privateer’s disguise (Aye, bold disguise!) We toast both law and lawless under skies (Lawless under skies!) [Pre-Chorus 2 – Percussion + Lead Vocals] The silver spills, the mast begins to sway (It sways, it sways!) And every oath I made is lost today (It’s lost today!) [Chorus 2 – Full Ensemble] Heave ho, the Crown’s black flag we fly! (Black flag we fly!) Once sworn to serve, now sworn to never die (To never die!) The King’s own mark still stains my hand with pride (With pride, with pride!) Yet I raid the seas with the devil at my side (The devil at my side!) [Bridge – Flamenco + Caribbean Accents] I wear two faces—one for God and King (One for King!) One for the tavern, where the pirates sing (Pirates sing!) By faith or fortune, I’ll not be undone (Not be undone!) For on these waters, law and sin are one (Law and sin are one!) [Final Chorus – Full Ensemble, Up-tempo] Heave ho, the Crown’s black flag we fly! (Black flag we fly!) Once sworn to serve, now sworn to never die (To never die!) The King’s own mark still stains my hand with pride (With pride, with pride!) Yet I raid the seas with the devil at my side (The devil at my side!) With the devil at my side— (At my side, at my side!) With the devil at my side! (At my side!) [Outro – Tinwhistle + Fiddle + Percussion] [Lead: Tinwhistle fades with mournful melodic line] [Fiddle: Sustains haunting drone, intertwining with flamenco flourishes] [Percussion: Final bodhrán crash, tambourine rolls, Caribbean rhythm fades]
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