Lyrics

Simon of Utrecht swears to bring
For the 12 betrayed and the Baltic Sea
Death to Gotland’s Pirate King
Their Sorrow everlasting - one gallon whole

Finds he a wicked, prideful man
For what will you betray your band?

Not for the silver in your hand
Will I betray my band

Not for the ship on which you stand
Will I betray my band

For a title, and for land
Will I betray my band

How to fetch this precious prize?
His cog sails swift as the swallow flies

Melt the rudder chain will I
Break her wings, and the bird won’t fly

***

The judge and executioner await the ships in Lübeck town
The pirate King is brought in chains to face the court and the people gathered round

Set us free, I’ll grant your town a silver chain so long and wide
If laid out in a circle, all of this entire city fits inside

Set us free, I’ll grant your town a chain of gold so thick and bright
It’s splendour well outshines the sun, and turns to golden day the darkest night

Spare us all your empty words, your lies to trick those slow of thought
No wretched robber ever had such riches that his freedom could be bought!

A wager then? In death I'll gain an honest chance to save my crew
Behead me! I will rise, for every step I take you'll see one sailor through

***

Twelve full paces, hope they bring
Then the headsman trips the headless king

Whisper nor wind the silence breaks
til the judge stands up and the pulpit takes

“Oaths to a pirate bind me not
I'll have my way, behead the lot”

Vows renounced, no grace prevails
Ne’er again will they hoist their sails

Searching the cog, great bounty’s found
Rubies, diamonds and gems abound

Scratch the masts and there behold
Solid silver and solid gold

They buried the King where no man goes
From his grave grew a briar rose

They laid his men in the ocean blue
For the twelve betrayed and the Baltic Sea
For them, no roses ever grew
Their sorrow everlasting - one gallon whole