Gather round this flask of rum draw close, mates, there are more to come Let’s fill our cups with some good cheer to our friends of yesteryear Five, four, three, two, one – like this Let the devil take what’s his From the shore we see it well: The Santiago’s gone to hell This enterprise is just insane – Antonio out and back to Spain No one here loves Concepción So burn that witch and let’s move on Frail Trinidad had the weakest heart She drank, she strayed and was torn apart That leaves just you, Victoria, Who pressed on like a warrior A bellyful of exotica To fill up our emporia Six captains and a lucky star – You made it ‘round, Victoria Here today and gone tomorrow This sip’s to life and not to sorrow Life aboard is life in hell Now hear the tales these devils tell One and one and one are three: Mutiny loves company Drawn and quartered and impaled: This Easter insurrection failed Fifteen hundred darts and spears Whisper: “You’re not welcome here!” His bleeding face in the shallow brine Accents a captain’s steep decline Here today and gone tomorrow This sip’s to life and not to sorrow Life aboard is life in hell Now hear the tales these devils tell Some rum, some grog, some beer, some wine The tallest tales are spiced with brine A sober head’s a virtuous thing But to-night our spirits sing Rum und Schnaps und Bier und Wein – so komm, Herr Bruder, schenk uns ein Wein und Rum und Schnaps und Bier – wir leben jetzt und leben hier Bier und Wein und Rum und Schnaps – so fern der Stürme um die Kaps Schnaps und Bier und Wein und Rum – heut dreht die Welt sich andersrum One, two, three, four, bottoms up! A dozen stories fill each cup Five, six, seven, down the hatch! Hear my accounts, will your tales match? A driven man opts for the crown That sends him out, not: ties him down Wrap your present, bow and string Hand a planet to your king Tweak the numbers and profess Your calculations show success Are you early? Are you late? Lose a day and miss your date Here today and gone tomorrow This sip’s to life and not to sorrow The worlds we’ve seen spawn dream and song So heed these tales and reyse along More rum, more grog, more beer, more wine None yields stories like the brine The waxing tales of a waning crew Of what is or what could be true