Pirate Jenny

You people can watch while I'm scrubbing these floors

And I'm scrubbin' the floors while you're gawking

Maybe once you tip me and it makes you feel swell

In this crummy Southern town, in this crummy old hotel

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

No, you couldn't ever guess to who you're talkin'

Then one night there's a scream in the night

And you'll wonder who could that have been

And you see me kinda grinnin' while I'm scrubbin'

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

I'll tell you

There's a ship

The Black Freighter

With a skull on its masthead

Will be coming in

You gentlemen can say, "Hey gal, finish them floors

Get upstairs, 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

'Cuz there's nobody gonna sleep here, tonight

Nobody is going to sleep here, honey

Nobody, nobody"

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 starin' out the window

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

I'll tell you

There's a ship

The Black Freighter

Turns around in the harbor

Shootin' guns from her bow

Now, you gentlemen can wipe off that smile off your face

'Cause every building in town is a flat one

This whole frickin' 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?"

Yes, that's what you say

"Why do they spare that one?"

All the night through, through the noise and to do

You wonder who is that person that lives up there?

And you see me stepping out in the morning

Looking nice with a ribbon in my hair

And the ship

The Black Freighter

Runs a flag up its masthead

And a cheer rings the air

By noontime the dock is a-swarmin' with men

Comin' out from the ghostly freighter

They move in the shadows where no one can see

And they're chainin' up people and they're bringin' em to me

Askin' me, "Kill them now or later?"

Askin' 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"

Then they'll pile up the bodies

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

And the ship

The Black Freighter

Disappears out to sea

And on it is me