Lyrics

Johnny was a working boy…

Blessed savior, save this child from this world of sin

Holy spirit, be the spirit that fills the void within

Sacred father, you have the most crucial thing to do

Be the father for this child whose father he never knew

Oh, Johnny boy

What kind of trouble did you get yourself into?

Oh, Johnny boy

What kind of trouble…

Tequila, vodka, brandy whiskey, rum and gin

These were the spirits that he used to fill the void within

Still he wanted something different, something far away

Something from a stranger’s tales of older, stranger days.

Oh, Johnny boy

What kind of trouble did you get yourself into?

Oh, Johnny boy

What kind of trouble…

Crossing streams and climbing trees and playing with fire

Poker chips and broken lips and playing with fire

Making out and dropping out and playing with fire

Broken hearts, drift apart and playing with fire

You keep playing with fire,

You keep playing with fire,

You keep playing with fire,

You might get burned.

Oh, Johnny boy

Oh, Johnny boy

You keep playing with fire

You might get burned.

The same pub, the same people, the same problems, the same friends

The same drunken conversation, but then suddenly it ends

When through the door came somebody who nobody knew

A crew of salty sailors, looking to throw back a few

Son, do you want to be a sailor

So, are you tough enough to be a sailor

Son, do you really want to be a sailor?

We don't think that you are man enough.

Well, they beat the boys at bowling, and they beat the boys at cards

They beat the boys at wrestling and out-drank the boys in yards

Soon they were tall-taleing as the boys watched on in awe

At the tales of the ocean’s savagery and foreign people’s laws

Son, do you want to be a sailor

So, are you tough enough to be a sailor

Son, do you really want to be a sailor

We don’t think that you are man enough.

Well once I caught a fish that weighed a hundred pounds or more

He struggled mighty on the line as he brought us straight to shore

When we cut him open, his belly wasn’t full of lead,

But of countless human skeletons and the treasures of the dead.

Son, do you want to be a sailor

So, are you tough enough to be a sailor

Son, do you really want to be a sailor

We don’t think that you are man enough.

Well the ladies of far places are not like the ladies here

They have many-colored fingernails which they use to comb their beards

They take on many husbands, both of women and of men

And that’s how I got my nickname, which is husband number ten.

Son, do you want to be a sailor

So, are you tough enough to be a sailor

Son, do you really want to be a sailor

We don’t think that you are man enough.

Well my name’s Johnny and adventure’s what I crave

I might only be half your size, but I’m twice as fucking brave

If a fight’s the plan, then I’m your man

So I’ll go to sea with you

Son, do you want to be a sailor

So, are you tough enough to be a sailor

Son, do you really want to be a sailor

We don’t think that you are man enough.

Son, do you want to be a sailor

So, are you tough enough to be a sailor

Son, do you really want to be a sailor

We don’t think that you are man enough.

Son, do you want to be a sailor?

Tell me that it isn’t true

I lost your father to the skull and bones

Don’t leave me here alone

Johnny was a working boy

Followed in his father’s shoes

Drunk, dreaming and in love

Becomes sober, awake and alone

Seasick and hung over

So, so far from home

Drunk, dreaming and in love

Becomes sober, awake and alone

Seasick and hung over

So, so far from home

Taking off the boxes

Putting them on the ship

When we get to Boston,

More of the same old shit

Taking off the boxes

Putting them on the ship

When we get to New York City…

Drunk, dreaming and alone

Becomes sober, awake and afraid

A morning light is dawning

On the choice that he has made

Drunk, dreaming and alone

Becomes sober, awake and afraid

A morning light is dawning

On the choice that he has made

Taking off the boxes

Putting them on the ship

When we get to Philly

More of the same old shit

Taking off the boxes

Putting them on the ship

When we get to Baltimore…

And the stars in the ocean at night keep on trying to sing you to sleep with a song that you like, it’s so blinking and bright but if you don’t tie knots in exactly the way that you’re taught then the sail could tilt and the ship could drift off so you mostly get stuck with the boxes and 4AM watch, which you really can’t botch but the stars in the ocean at night keep on making you dream of some far-away scene which is somehow more real than where you have been

And you work and you work and you work ‘till you die, son,

So why are you even still asking me why

It’s your lot in this life

Taking off the boxes

Putting them on the ship

When we get to ‘Norlins

More of the same old shit

‘Till we get to New Orleans…

Shore leave and apathy

Waltz into the hole in the wall

An unfamiliar face

Timid conversation’s call

But then the strangest thing

Two lifelines intertwine

The stranger’s faces blur

And dancing gazes meet

Pirate girl, born in the hold of

An Atlantic cargo ship who

Found her people and her freedom

In a different type of lifestyle

Precious flower, ruthless killer

Never knew her own mother

Who was waiting far away

In a land across the sea

In a land across the sea

Local and northerner

Retreat on the path to the pond

Matching their boyish wits

Against the scene that they quit

But then the strangest thing

Two lifelines intertwines

A quiet moment falls

And dancing gazes meet

Pirate girl, born in the hold of

An Atlantic cargo ship who

Found her people and her freedom

In a different type of lifestyle

Precious flower, ruthless killer

Never knew her own mother

Who was waiting far away

In a land across the sea

In a land across the sea

Wake in a stranger’s room

Go run to the dockside soon

The ships disappeared in the night

Like he knew that they would

“I guess you’re a pirate now

Go meet your new crew”

And they went off together

Starting something new

Pirate girl, born in the hold of

An Atlantic cargo ship who

Found her people and her freedom

In a different type of lifestyle

Precious flower, ruthless killer

Never knew her own mother

Who was waiting far away

In a land across the sea

In a land across the sea

In a land across the sea

Found love

Found love

Found love in a dangerous place

One year ago

A year of trouble and of marigolds

A year of love he thought he’d never know

Impossible

Innocent

We used to be so innocent

We never knew what any of it meant

To lead a life of crime

Criminal

I’m antisocial man

I’m a criminal baby

And I’m taking off

Criminal

I’m antisocial man

I’m a criminal baby

And I’m taking off

And I’m breaking out

And I’m taking off

And I’m breaking out

And I’m free

An opera

A floating operatic river-boat

A surprising twist in the second half

“Put the pearls in the bag”

Hostages

Your job was just to watch the hostages

Nothing difficult, except that it is

On a sinking ship

Life can be so cruel

Life can be so cruel

Criminal

I’m antisocial man

I’m a criminal baby

And I’m taking off

Criminal

I’m antisocial man

I’m a criminal baby

And I’m taking off

And I’m breaking out

And I’m taking off

And I’m breaking out

And I’m free

Run

Run to the sea

Summon the marines

And tell them what you’ve seen

Go

Up river in boats

Bearing soft torches

And the law in your hearts

Pirates are surrounded

Hostages are gone

Love can’t save you every time

This time it leaves you behind

Love can’t save you every time

This time it leaves you behind

Because I’m a criminal

I’m antisocial, man

I’m a criminal baby

And I’m taking off

And I’m breaking out

And I’m taking off

And I’m breaking out

Because I’m a criminal

And I’m free

Criminal

I’m antisocial man

I’m a criminal baby

Oh, Johnny boy

Oh, Johnny boy

How I wish you were here

With me

Johnny was a working boy

Followed in his father’s shoes

Found love in a dangerous place

And so his life did lose

Killing time

Remembering

The harsh words

Of the judge

Killing time

Remembering

The harsh words

Of the judge

Don’t cry for him

This is the path he chose

He turned away from love

Forgot the eye above

And now it’s judgment day

Choking up

Couldn’t say

The words he thought

Could save

Choking up

Couldn’t say

The words he knew

Couldn’t save

Don’t cry for me

This is my destiny

Up there in your high chair,

Do you think you’re any better up there

I will see you again

I will see you again on judgment day

Hear the footsteps

Of the hang-man

Tying up his rope

Leave your cell now

On a journey

That can have no hope

It’s judgment day

It’s judgment day

Blessed savior save my child from this world of sin

The merchant ship made port today but came back without him

If my Johnny still is somewhere out there on the sea

I beg you guide him safely home and bring him back to me

Back when we were Christians, we were wretched and abused

We gave up our salvation, so we’ve nothing left to lose

The captain taught us nature’s order with him at the top

But we cut the captain’s tongue out so his teaching had to stop

Wanted for his murder and with no home to go to

We made us a new flag that shows the new face of our crew

Jolly Roger

Jolly Roger

And when it’s dancing up the mast and coming into view

You’ll go up the mast on a rope as well ‘cause we’re coming after you

Drop the anchor!

I am a dancing skeleton and the ocean is my grave

I always have an hourglass to tell me of my fate

I am a dreamless sleeper, and when I come to bed

I won’t be ashamed of what I’ve done because I will be dead

And when I’m dancing up the mast and coming into view

You’ll go up the mast on a rope as well ‘cause I’m coming after you

Drop the anchor!

Blue void, endless nothingness

Seems like an illusion

What great monsters lurk beneath

Your fragile perception

Blue void, nameless desire

Pursue the siren song

What great treasures lie in wait

Beyond the horizon

Blue sky, waiting to depart

As wide as an open heart

As far as the eye can see

Greatness of uncertainty

No one up except your reflection

No one up except the moon

Everyone believes in something

Trust the stars to tell you where you are

Nothing here except your reflection

No one up except the moon

Wishing you could believe in something

I know why the lonely sailor

Clings to superstitious things

Loves the siren as she sings

Thinks their crew is honest thieves

I know why the lonely sailor

I know why the lonely sailor

Clings to superstitious things

Loves the siren as she sings

Thinks that they're an honest thief

I know why the lonely sailor

I know why the lonely sailor

I know why the lonely sailor

Believes

In love

Thalassophobia

Fear of an open sea

I know why the lonely sailor

Believes

And the cycles keep repeating

Working people, eating breeding

Loving, leaving, what’s the reason?

Passing seasons, passing seasons