the White ships' Revenge

[Intro] [Solo Fiddle] [Acapella Male Vocal] Ho, raise the cup and drain it dry, The moon is high, the gulls all cry, And if the tide should take my name, Then let it drown in silver flame! [Verse 1] [Acoustic Guitar] [Bodhran Drum enter] Our white ships lay at anchor, the swan upon the prow; the Noldor wanted passage — you know that story now. They asked us for our vessels. We told them, "No, you may not." They asked again, politely — then killed us for the lot. [Gang Call and Response] [Chanted] Thago! — (Ai!) I raiph! — (Ai!) Edro! — (Ai!) I melyn! — (Ai!) [Pre-Chorus] [Build-up] [Faster Rhythm] Now ages have passed over, and kingdoms rise and fall. The Elves have lost their kingdoms, the Kings are in their hall. But still the ships are sailing, and still the captains shout: "There must be some great purpose!" There must. We've not found out. [Chorus] [Full Band] [Gang Vocals] So raise the cup to Fëanor — may Mandos hold him long! He wanted ships for glory; we want them for the song. And if the kings come asking what right we had to take — we tell them, "It's tradition. We learned it from the Great!" [Verse 2] [Driving Percussion] [Heavy Stomps] The King's ship came behind us, three times our size and more. Her sails were white as winter, her spears were at the fore. [Spoken Dialogue] [Crew] Captain! They mean to sink us! [Captain - wellspoken] They do. I've eyes as well. [Crew] And shall we flee? [Captain - wellspoken] We shall not. [Crew] Then what—? [Captain - enthusiastic, wellspoken, shouted] We're taking hers! [Verse continuation] [Fast Fiddle] Up ropes and over railings, let every blade be drawn! The King's men guard their treasure until their guards are gone. [Spoken Dialogue] [Guard] Have you no honour? [Captain, wellspoken] Not today! [Crew] Which flag d'you want? [Captain, wellspoken] Take both! [Gang Call and Response] Thago! — (Ai!) I raiph! — (Ai!) Edro! — (Ai!) I melyn! — (Ai!) [Chorus] [Full Band] [Gang Vocals] So raise the cup to Fëanor — may Mandos hold him long! He wanted ships for glory; we want them for the song. And if the kings come asking what right we had to take — we tell them, "It's tradition. We learned it from the Great!" [Bridge] [Tempo Drop] [Soft Fiddle] And when the night is darkest And storms are on the Sea, The captain tells the oldest joke That ever came to be: [Spoken, dry] "At least they're not the Noldor." [Instrumental Swell] [Thunder FX] The Elves all laugh until they shake, The lightning splits the sky! The Men all ask, "Was that a joke?" The old Falathrim reply: [Spoken, dry] "After three ages on the waves... It gets funnier as time goes by." [Outro] [Maximum Energy] [Stomping Drums] [Full Cast] The Men aboard our vessel have learned the Elven tongue; the Elves aboard our vessel have learned the Men have lungs. They curse us in Adûnaic, we curse them in Sindar-in; but when the ropes are calling, we pull the same as kin! [Final Gang Call] [Acapella Crew Shout] [Heavy Table Stomps] THAGO! — (AI!) I RAIPH! — (AI!) EDRO! — (AI!) I MELYN! — (AI!) AI! AI! AI! [Outro] [End]