[Intro — Gentle accordion, waves against the mangroves] [Mara — Female spoken voice] One more song with Wren at Driftwood, Then I took the upper coast home. Wren waved from the shack. The producer squawked. And no, I didn’t buy another fish. That crossing’s still closed. Barnacle, why are you shouting? [Barnacle — Gravelly announcer] Blackwater Broadcast! Titans Maw! We may have found treasure! [Tack] I said something shiny. [Accordion riff — Stomps and fiddle enter] [Verse 1 — Barnacle, rolling gravelly lead] Tack came banking past the mangroves, Called, “There’s something catching light!” I announced a lost king’s fortune; He said, “Not what I described.” Brine slid through the muddy shallows, Scutes along the waterline. Turned a battered board toward the sunlight— [Captain Brine — Spoken] That’s not treasure. That’s my sign. [Chorus — Mara leads; crew answers] HAUL IT HIGH! DRAG IT DRY! Look what the tide dragged in! One old board, no golden hoard, And a very familiar grin. You can bargain with a neighbour, You can sweet-talk half the bay— But the sea don’t keep your paperwork, And it don’t care what you say! [Brine — Shouted response] THAT’S NOT TREASURE, THAT’S MY SIGN! [Crew] Then bring your business back to land! [Verse 2 — Mara, lively female lead] There were roots around one corner, There was mud where prices shone. All those very special offers— Not a single number left upon it. Brine got those Deino jaws around The end that wasn’t split. Tack called, “Left—no, your left, Captain!” Brine said, “I am attached to it.” I kept the landing clear for him; He worked the board out slow. His tail stirred half the shallows brown, Then up came years of “best value”— [Brine — Indignant] Months. A very successful few months. [Mara] We’re not measuring that the same way. [Radio Bulletin — Barnacle, spoken] Our treasure report has been corrected. No gold. One board. Considerable personal investment. Tack’s original report was accurate. I improved it beyond recognition. [Chorus — Mara and Barnacle; full crew] HAUL IT HIGH! DRAG IT DRY! Look what the tide dragged in! One old board, no golden hoard, And a very familiar grin. You can bargain with a neighbour, You can sweet-talk half the bay— But the sea don’t keep your paperwork, And it don’t care what you say! [Brine] THAT’S NOT TREASURE, THAT’S MY SIGN! [Crew] Then bring your business back to land! [Instrumental — Fiddle and accordion trade fast melodies] [Percussion break — Heavy stomps, one low drum answer] [Verse 3 — Mara, clear female lead] We turned it over by the landing, Found a side we still could use. Brine looked toward the broken crossing, Then the trail the walkers choose. He said, “Put CLOSED in proper letters. Big enough to see from dry. Set it where the path approaches. No one needs to pay for that advice.” [Barnacle — Spoken] A free service? [Brine] Don’t make me repeat it. [Bridge — Fiddle softens; Mara and Brine] [Mara — Warm female voice] I kept the old debts in the ledger, Didn’t cross a single line. [Brine — Quiet] I’m not asking for a medal. Just make the letters big this time. [Mara] Then hold it steady while I paint it. [Brine] Mind the teeth. [Mara] Believe me, Captain. I’ve been doing that all week. [Build — Accordion rises, crew stomps return] [Barnacle — Sung] We set that board beside the approach, Where the dry trail meets the view. It used to sell a doubtful journey— Now it tells the honest truth. [Final Chorus — Mara, soaring female lead; Barnacle and crew] HAUL IT HIGH! SET IT RIGHT! Let the whole of Titans Maw see! CROSSING CLOSED in great big letters— And the warning comes for free. You can keep your clever speeches, You can keep your grand design; Sometimes getting better starts With changing what’s upon the sign. [Brine — Shouted] THAT’S NOT TREASURE, THAT’S MY SIGN! [Crew] And it’s finally worth the read! [Mara] One small honest thing beside the water— [All] NOT EVERYTHING. A START, AT LEAST! [Outro — Fading fiddle and accordion] [Tack — Spoken] Board recovered. Crossing still closed. No repairs completed. [Barnacle] Accurate. Slightly shorter than my version. [Brine] I still own the board. [Mara] Yes. Everybody gets to read it. [Barnacle] Blackwater Broadcast. The coast keeps returning our stories. Unfortunately, it remembers the prices. [Final crew stomp]
