A Pirate costume is often 
one of the easiest
to make and one that 
has been worn by more children 
and adults than almost any other.
Pirates seem to appeal to us
at a  very basic level. 
Maybe, because so many 
of them used a variation 
of the skull and bones flag... 
The Jolly Roger
hmmm... my mother's
last name was Jolly... 
none of her brothers 
were named Roger though...
RULE OF LAW 
BE DAMNED
ME BUCKOS! 
but... did you know that some "pirates" 
had agreements
with their own governments
to only capture ships of other nations?
Yo! Ho! Ho! 
and a bottle of rum...

Lyrics copyright (c) 1977 by Palm Beach Recordings Ltd.
(EMMERSON LAKE & PALMER)
http://www.dynrec.com/elp/
from the album "WORKS"
Atlanta Recording Company
 

"Who'll make his mark." the captain cried
"To the devil drink a toast.
We'll glut the hold with cups of gold
And we'll feed the sea with ghosts
I see your hunger for a fortune
Could be better served beneath my flag
If you've the stomach for a broadside
Come aboard my pretty boys
I will take you and make you
Everything you've ever dreamed."

"Make fast the guns tonight we sail
When the high tide floods the bay,
Cut free the lines and square the yards
Get the black flag stowed away.
The Turk. The Arab and the Spaniard
Will soon have pennies on their eyes
And any other laden fancy
We will take her by surprise
I will take you and make you
Everything you've ever dreamed."

Six days off the Cuban coast when
a sail ahead they spied
"A galleon of the treasure fleet,"
the mizzen lookout cried
"Closer to the wind my boys,"
the mad-eyed captain roared
"For every man that's alive tonight
will be hauling gold aboard."
"Spare us," the galleon begged 
but mercy's face had fled
Blood ran from the screaming souls
the cutlass harvested
Driven to the quarter deck
the last survivor fell
"She's ours my boys," 
the Captain grinned 
"and no one left to tell."

The Captain rose from a silk divan
With a pistol in his fist
And shot the lock from an iron box
And a blood red ruby kissed
"I give you jewellry of turquoise
A crucifix of solid gold
One hundred thousand silver pieces
It is just as I foretold
You... You see there before you everything
You've ever dreamed."

Anchored in an indigo moonlit bay
Gold-eyed round fires the sea thieves lay
Morning... white shells and a pipe of clay
As the wind filled their footsteps
They were far... far... away.

"Our sails swell full as we brave all seas
On a westward wind to live as we please
With the wicked wild-eyed women 
of Portabello town
Where we've been told
that a purse of gold
Buys any man a crown
They will serve you and clothe you
Exchange your rags 
for the velvet coats of kings."

"Who'll drink a toast with me
I give you liberty
This town is ours... tonight."

"Landlord, wine make it the finest
make it a cup for a seadog's thirst
Two long years of bones and beaches
Fever and leeches did their worst
So fill the night with paradise
Bring me peach and peacock till I burst
But first, I want a soft touch
in the right place
I want to feel like a King tonight
Ten on the black to beat the Frenchman
Back you dogs give em room to turn
Now open wide sweet Heaven's gates
Tonight were gonna see if Heaven burns
I want an angel on a gold chain
And I'll ride her to the stars
It's the last time for a long time
Come the daybreak, we embark..."
On the flood of the morning tide
Once more the ocean cried.

"This company will return one day
Though we feel your tears
it's the price we pay
For there's prizes to be taken 
and glory to be found
Cut free the chains make fast your souls
We are Eldorado bound...
I will take you fo always forever together
Until hell calls our names..."

"Who'll drink a toast with me
To the devil and the deep blue sea
Gold drives a man... to dream!". 

 ALL POLITICAL PARTIES 
ARE PIRATES!