The Morning After the Galleon’s Fall (Chapter 1)

[Verse 1] Oh the sun stabs in like a boarding pike, Through the shutters of Holly’s den, My head’s a powder keg, my tongue is spiked, But we’re rich as Spanish kings again! Bottles lie like dead marines, Noodles crust like barnacles on the board, Yet every scar-faced rogue still grins— We’ve silver enough to buy the Lord! [Chorus] Heave ho, lads, the night is done, Fill the bowls and grease the guns! We took the galleon in the fog, Left her naked to the waves and God! Drink to the cutlass, drink to the ball, Drink till we can’t stand at all— For the morning after the galleon’s fall Is the sweetest morning of them all! [Verse 2] Josh is wipin’ tables with a swaggerin’ sway, Still seein’ that guard’s eyes go wide, When his Spanish steel went the wrong damn way And our English iron kissed his hide! Captain Greg’s laugh is thunder’s twin, Slappin’ the table till the tankards leap, “Boys, that mist was thick as original sin— But silver shines brighter when it’s stolen deep!” [Chorus] Heave ho, lads, the night is done, Pass the bacon and the rum! We swung aboard like devils bold, Turned their prayers to screams for gold! Drink to the grapples, drink to the cheer, Drink till the dead themselves draw near— For the morning after the galleon’s fall Is the sweetest morning of them all! [Verse 3] Holly storms through the haze like a brisk trade wind, Tray on her hip and fire in her eye, “Eat, ye worthless curs, or be skinned!” She’ll feed ye or flog ye, no reason why. The tales grow taller with every bowl, Of ghosts on the yardarm, of blood on the moon, But the only ghost here’s the one in my soul Whisperin’ “Spend it quick, lad—ye’ll be dead soon!” [Chorus] Heave ho, lads, the night is done, The sea’s still callin’ every one! We left that fat donkey wallowin’ bare, Her captain weepin’ in despair! So raise the black flag, raise the call— We’ll dance again when next we maul— For the morning after the galleon’s fall Is the sweetest morning… of them all! [Final roar, slower and lower] Aye, the sweetest mornin’… till the next bloody haul!