Jolly Roger

The sun came up on the Spanish sea

Our homeland far behind us

Being junted by the King's Navy

It's sure he'd never find us

Pull away, me lads o' the Cardiff Rose

And hoist the Jolly Roger

We brought her into the looward wind

And made for the Caribbean

For thoughts of what it might have been

Destroys a human bein'

But thoughts about the Spaniards' gold

And learnin' to desire it

Can make a man so brash and bold

He'll soon become a pirate

Pull away, me lads o' the Cardiff Rose

And hoist the Jolly Roger

Now a gleam came into the Captain's eyes

As he spied an English clipper

"She looks the perfect shape and size

Let's all aboard and strip her"

We fired a shot across her bow

And eased ourselves beside her

With our keels as close as she'd allow

We swung from the deck to ride her

Pull away, me lads o' the Cardiff Rose

And hoist the Jolly Roger

Up she stumbles and starts to pitch

And signals for assistance

We tightened our hold another hitch

And ended her resistance

Now there's many a day on the Spanish sea

I served aboard that raider

But we never did nothing more beautifully

Than the way that we belayed her

Pull away, me lads o' the Cardiff Rose

And hoist the Jolly Roger

Her hold was hot as St.Elmo's fire

Her chests were filled with treasure

We took as much as we'd require

Then took more for our pleasure

Now there's many a day on the Spanish Main

But none I hold so dear

As the happy day I first became

A scurvy buccaneer

Pull away, me lads o' the Cardiff Rose

And hoist the Jolly Roger