Pirate Jenny

[Verse 1]

Ah, you people can watch while I'm scrubbing these floors

And I'm scrubbing these floors while you're gawking

Maybe once you tip me and it makes you feel swell

In this crummy southern town, in this pit of hotel

But you'll never guess to who you're talking

No, you'll never guess to who you're talking

Then one night there's a scream in the night

And you wonder, "Who could that have been?"

And you see me kind of grinning while I'm scrubbing

And you say, "What she got to grin?"

I'll tell ya

[Chorus]

There's a ship

The black freighter

With a skull on its masthead

Will be coming in

[Verse 2]

You gentlemen say, "Hey gal, finish them floors

What's wrong with you? Earn your keep here"

You toss me your tips and look out to the ships

But I'm counting your heads as I'm making the beds

'Cause there's nobody gonna sleep here tonight

No, nobody, no one, no one

Then one night there's a scream in the night

And you say, "Who's that kicking up a row?"

And you see me kinda staring out the window

And you say, "What she got to stare at now?"

I'll tell ya

[Chorus]

There's a ship

The black freighter

Turns around in the harbour

Shooting guns from her bow

[Verse 3]

Well, you gentlemen can wipe those smiles off your face

'Cause every building in town is a flat one

This whole frigging place will be down to the ground

Only this cheap hotel standing up, safe and sound

And you yell, "Why do they spare that one?

Why? Why the hell do they spare that one?"

All the night through with the noise and to do

And you wonder, "Who is that person that lives up there?"

And you see me stepping out in the morning

Looking fine with a ribbon in my hair

Well, just look at me now

[Chorus]

And a ship

The black freighter

Runs a flag up its masthead

And a cheer rings the air, hey!

[Verse 4]

By noontime the dock is a-swarming with men

Coming out from the ghostly freighter

They're moving in the shadows where no one can see

And they're chaining up people and delivering 'em to me

Asking me, "Kill them now or later?"

Asking me, "Kill them now or later?"

Noon by the clock and so still at the dock

You can hear a foghorn miles away

And in that quiet of death I'll say, "Right now! Right now!"

And they pile up the bodies

And I'll say, "That'll learn you, that'll learn you"

[Chorus]

And the ship

The black freighter

Disappears out to sea

And on it is me!