[Instrumental Intro] [Verse 1] Gold teeth grinnin’ in a bloodstain grin Got a ledger in my head where the dead buy in Every coin got a name that I won’t forget Every scream got a weight in my velvet chest Got rope burns brown on my calloused hands Tide pulled red where we cut those plans Turned friends to anchors, dropped ’em deep Now they knock my hull when I try to sleep (shut up) Storm in my skull, hear the thunder talk I tax every soul that attempts my walk Map ink smeared with the tears I took You can read my sins like a holy book [Chorus] Pieces of eight, I count my curse Each one worse than the last, than the last one, worse Click, clack, spill ’em out on the plate Every dark deed in a pile of eight Pieces of eight, they sing my shame But I stack that pain like I stack my fame If the sea wants me, it’s already late I bought my hell with pieces of eight (yah) [Verse 2] Crew all quiet when the floorboards creak Know the ghosts lined up when I start that speak “I took your lives for a shine that fades” Still I lock that shine in my iron cage Burned one port till the bells went mute Watched black smoke curl ’round my boots Cut a man's throat just to pay my debt Left his kid on the pier—ain’t forgot that yet I toast with rum to the ones I drowned See their faces rise when the ship goes down But the cold hard clink of my cursed pay Makes the guilt jump ship, float far away (ha) [Chorus] Pieces of eight, I count my curse Each one worse than the last, than the last one, worse Click, clack, spill ’em out on the plate Every dark deed in a pile of eight Pieces of eight, they chant my name Like a low tide hymn in a voice of flame If the deep wants blood, I’ll raise the rate I bought my throne with pieces of eight [Bridge] [beat drops to bass and sparse hats] One for the traitor I buried alive Two for the priest when he begged to survive Three for the crew that I sold in chains Four for the harbor I fed to the flames Five for the captain I knifed in his sleep Six for the widows I promised to keep Seven for the storm where I cut the rope Eight for myself when I strangled hope (choke) [Chorus] Pieces of eight, I count my curse Each one worse than the last, than the last one, worse Click, clack, spill ’em out on the plate Every dark deed in a pile of eight Pieces of eight, they seal my fate Let the black tide rise, let the angels wait When the sea cashes in, chain ’round my waist I’ll sink crowned king of pieces of eight
