Yo ho ho

[khaosworks]

Listening to the last track of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" soundtrack, the track entitled "He's A Pirate" that starts the end credits, the music just cries out for lyrics.

Yes, fleetfootmike thinks that is is horrible and I'm a Philistine for wanting to tamper with perfection, but really, I swear, you can hear the words just waiting to be given expression.

I pulled together some lyrics, some of them liberally borrowed and adapted from the actual Pirates of the Caribbean ride song, "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me)" which is also sung briefly in the beginning and end of the movie, and whose lyrics are echoed in some of the dialogue.

Now, get out the soundtrack if you have it, play "He's A Pirate", and see if the song fits. Try to imagine a sea-front tavern, filled with pirates, half of them singing one verse, and the other half returning the next. I leave the judgment in your hands.


The Shanty of Jack Sparrow
(to the tune of "He's A Pirate" by Klaus Badelt
from the "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" soundtrack)
Lyrics © 2003 by Terence Chua

He's a black sheep, he's a scoundrel, he's a rascal and a villain
He will pillage, he will plunder and he'll rifle and he'll loot
He's a bad egg, come to no good, and he'll charm you if you're willin'
He will kidnap and ravage, and he'll never give a hoot

He's a beggar and a blighter, he's a low life and a sinner
He'll defeat yer and he'll cheat yer and he'll beat yer at yer game
He's a bandit, he's a maggot, and he'll steal yer Sunday dinner
He's a demon and pirate, and Jack Sparrow is his name!

He's the worst pirate in history, that's a fact
Hail Captain Jack
Yo ho ho...

Lock up yer daughters!
Brace for the slaughter!
Hell or high water
Jack will be back!

So all hands go aloft for there's work to be done
'fore we head for that old Spanish Main (yo ho!)
And the life of a pirate is bright as the sun
As the Seven Seas offer us freedom again

Sail! Ho! Give them no quarter!
Yo! Ho! Raise the black pennant!
Draw! Swords! Get ready to board 'er!
Old Jack will soon win the day!

Comments

[daphnis.livejournal.com]

Is there no end to your talents, no field into which you cannot enter and compete with all comers?? I haven't heard (or seen) "Pirates", but I find myself visualizing the scene you described and very nearly _hearing_ the song.

I don't know whether you will take this as a compliment ~ that IS how it's intended. One of the traits which most endears actor/singer/nut Robin Williams to his audiences is the fact that he's game to try anything that pops into his ever-experimenting mind. He seems to have very few boundaries that are not elastic, few inhibitions which cannot be 'flashed' for a second, and a great number of child-like enjoyments which he delights in sharing with the world.

Thank you for sharing your own zaniness with your LJ readers! Levity is sorely needed in these times of gloom, doom, murder, mayhem and high-level megalomania....

[bardling.livejournal.com]

I agree with mike in that the music doesn't *NEED* lyrics to be perfect for the movie...

...but I do like your lyrics for it and I think they do suit the music, character & situation very well, though sung at the speed the track is played at they're a trifle quick in places. I can sing them, but I'd wager they'd not be all that easy to follow. ;)

(Only scansion issue I can see at all is "get ready to..." but as I can't think of anything better either, I'll keep my peace and sing it this way. :)

*hugs*

[trektone.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard the soundtrack and as I was reading your lyrics and rereading the tune title, I suddenly visualized a production number in your described setting singing pirate lyrics to the song "He's A Rebel." Sorry.

[batyatoon]

YES!!!
Thank you thank you thank you! I've been trying to do that for months!

And now I don't have to. :)

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

That's wonderful, and I'll have to have it handy and go listen to the music. (It's a very minor detail, but surely you mean Chanty instead of Shanty?)