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C.E. Skilling

Tortuga

I’ve climbed aboard a mystery ship
where she’s bound I know not
Her gorgeous bow is crystalline lined
no wood of cedar to rot
“She’ll sail a million leagues me lad”
I heard the Cap’n say
“So heave to ye swabs
we hoist anchor this very day
Once we’ve cleared the reefs of reason
and entered the seas of illusion
Take heart ye mates every one
and forsake the thought seclusion
Wonders will abound before yer eyes
of maids so fine and fair
With hair spun from Gods own loom
we’ll have to drag ye home from there
Yell hear the wisest stories
from men so brave and bold
Of daring deeds and midnight raids
with booty of silver and gold
We’ll sail from Santa Marta
Tortuga will be our aim
‘cause rum flows freely
and maids is friendly
here on the Spanish Main
But if ye seek the hills
‘round Tortuga ye might see
The fires of gypsies campgrounds
where the wisest of ladies be
they’ll tell ye of tomorrow
they’ll tell ye of the past
they’ll tell ye of their great loves
that ye’ll carve into the mast
So when this voyage is over
and ye sits within yer room
Yell have this great adventure
to brighten up yer gloom
Then sing it to yer grand child
and send him off to bed
To have a night of wonderment
while gypsies fill his head