The Belfast Flame

[Ray Brookes]

A salty old sea shanty about a pirate ship ...

Patrick O' Leary is my name. I served upon The Belfast Flame
Soul of flint & heart of stone I served beneath the skull & bones

Yo ho ho on The Belfast Flame. Sailed across the Spanish Maine
Sweat & tears & blood & gore. Return a rich man to Ireland's shore.

The skull & crossbones at our mast we'd chase the trade-ships hard & fast
Steal what treasures we would find the dead and wounded left behind
Then one summer we're made to pay off the coast of Veracruz one day
A lookout cried from the forward prow 'Sails upon the starboard bow'

The galleon danced upon the sea like an old Duchess with a gammy knee
The captain smiled; we turned about, the men at arms began to shout
Oh what treasures in that hold? Barrels of rum and blanks of gold?
'Be at 'em, boys an easy mark we'll all be rich before it's dark'

'Man the cannons hoist the sail a casket of the finest ale
To the first man here to breach their hull. Grab the bowlines; pull boys pull'
'Load the powder, load the shot let's give the Spanish all we got'
The sea was rough, the wind was high; I heard a lonesome seagull cry

Yo ho ho on The Belfast Flame. Sailed across the Spanish Maine
Sweat & tears & blood & gore. Return a rich man to Ireland's shore.

What fools we were in dunces' caps. The Spanish there had set a trap
No merchant ship carrying no trade. A squad of marines in ambush laid
The captain roared the Bo 'sun yelled, the first mate lay just where he'd felled
Our decks on fire where I had stood. The rusty cannon doused in blood.

Yo ho ho on The Belfast Flame. Sunken on the Spanish Maine
Fishes nibble at our bones down here with the locker of Davy Jones.

[SE]

Wow this is so good, love a shanty. Lots going  on too great  production and performance!!

[Greeny]

Amazing and captivating. A wonderful, lyrical story, and a performance and production to match. Very convincing too - comes across as a genuine traditional folk tune. Such lovely detail and flavour in those Irish whistles. Sublime!

[maxit]

this one is 'straight in each limb (fair and handsome and)' to quote one of my folk's favorite songs. Amazing !

[Ted]

One (of many) cool things about this is the looong fade out – like a lingering menace.

[Lurker]

I'm not sure what to say. I'll start simple: This is BRILLIANT!

It's a great story. The lyrics very well crafted. You sing it so well. I'm going back for another listen.

[DarrenG / The Devil's Toupee]

I remember this one from you Ray, one of my favourites, if it's possible to have a favourite as your songs are all bloody great. Such a great story, I can just imagine some pirates singing this sea shanty while drinking the rum lol. Excellent music and vocals.

[Hilary]

Totally captivating - thanks Ray.

[godinqc]

Excellent lyrics, vocals and playing
Great song ..

[hardlock]

Very engaging piece. One of your best I think. Totally enthralled with it's message, melody, vocals and instrumentation, as well as the performance and production. Did I miss anything? Oh yeah, I agree, the fade out was haunting!